Mindful & Intuitive Eating: New Paradigm for Physical and Mental Health

Course overview

Many patients clients struggle with obesity and obesity related chronic diseases. While poor quality food is a contributing factor traditional programs that encourage individuals to consciously restrict their food intake focusing on external rules have often been ineffective in terms of weight outcomes. The majority of people regain all weight lost within 5 years. In addition these programs may be counterproductive promoting psychological distress and unhealthy eating behaviors. It is time for a new paradigm. The program Mindful and Intuitive Eating offers a new approach one that encourages food intake based on internal cues of hunger and fullness as well as the sensory properties of food. Mindful Eating involves maintaining the moment to moment awareness of current thoughts emotions and physical sensations as well as any resistance or urges to react to those experiences. The focus is on self care not self control. As self care progresses the hallmarks of mental distress e.g. compulsive behavior and obsessive preoccupation with food and weight may subside. Depression stress and anxiety may also be alleviated as patients clients achieve better self regulation and improved body image and perception of self worth. Accumulating research shows that combining these approaches with nutrition knowledge or gentle nutrition can transform our relationship with food. This can lead to more healthful enjoyable and satisfying experiences that ultimately reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote more favorable psychological outcomes. Moreover mindful eating practices offer an effective approach to help regulate the stress response so as to optimize digestive function a healing eating mode that is the cornerstone of wellness.