6 Mindful Eating Tips To Improve Your Digestion

How you eat can be as important as what you eat.

Eating mindfully can help you reduce stress, digest and assimilate your food better, curb overeating, manage weight, and give you an improved sense of well-being.

Try these six mindful eating tips to get the most out of your meals!

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1) Turn Off Devices

Getting rid of distractions helps you pay attention to what you are doing, how much you are eating, and when you are full.

Let mealtime be a break in your day when you take time for you.

Even if you can’t make this happen at every meal, try to eat one meal a day in a peaceful, non-distracted state.

2) Deep Breathing

Take 3 deep breaths before you start eating to shift your body from stress mode to rest and digest mode.

Eating in a non-stressed (or less-stressed) state will make a huge difference in the way you digest your food.

3) Give Thanks  

Expressing gratitude is a wonderful way to shift your body into a positive, healing mode and reduce stress.

Take a moment to appreciate your food by honoring those that brought it to you – farmers, factory workers, the chef, mother Earth, and even the plants or animals that you are consuming.

4) Eat Slowly and Chew Your Food Thoroughly

Instead of inhaling your food, experience it and chew it well.

Notice the colors, textures and flavors of your food. Enjoy chewing each bite.

Digestion begins in the mouth, and many digestive complaints like indigestion, bloating, belching and gas can be resolved simply by simply chewing your food thoroughly.

Plus you’ll be giving your brain ample time to catch up with your gut to avoid overeating.

5) Eat With Good Posture

Sit up straight in a chair or on the floor in a cross legged position, keeping your spine long, and don’t slump or eat curled up in a ball on the couch.

Bring your food to your mouth rather than tilting your head towards your plate.

Slumping affects your organs and slows digestion.

6) Pay Attention To How You Feel After a Meal

Check in with yourself an hour or two later or before your next meal to see how your last meal worked for you.

Was it satisfying? How is your mood and energy level? Are you ravenously hungry? How was your digestion?

By paying attention to how you feel after you eat, you can begin to figure out what is working for you and where you might improve.

If your meals aren’t satisfying you until your next meal or are causing you digestive distress, perhaps you need to change what or how you’re eating!