You Are What You Eat: Mindful Eating

Mindful eating is a key to good health

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As 2018 progresses, New Year’s Resolutions have either flourished or fallen flat. For those who made personal goals on bettering your health and creating a new and improved lifestyle, it can be challenging to create a fitness routine that works with your crazy schedule. But, that’s only half the challenge- the food that you consume plays a huge part in weight loss, overall well-being, and skincare. While you may be thinking, “there’s so much to know… where do I start?” Lucky for you, mindful eating could be the first step to changing your life!

 

What Is Mindful Eating?

Basically, mindful eating is a perspective change on how, and why, you eat the way you do. With training, individuals become more aware of their hunger and satiety cues from their bodies, which in turn helps them to gauge how much to eat during a meal. Mindful eating focuses on bringing attention to the present moment of eating, using all of your senses, and observing your mental and emotional responses to different foods. It’s all about savoring your food, slowing down and enjoying your meal, which in turn can help you assess your level of fullness easier.

 

Why Is This Important?

For some, their eating habits are tied to emotional responses in their lives. Mindful eating teaches discipline, but is different than calorie-counting. Some individuals suffer from binge-eating habits, or eating when stressed or bored. Mindful eating aids in creating positive, healthy, and strategic ways to enjoy food without overindulging. When you are aware of poor eating behaviors, it is easier to correct them and replace them with nourishing ones.

 

Does It Actually Work?

Yes. There are several benefits to mindful eating. Besides a greater awareness of hunger and fullness, there is typically less weight regain that follows after dieting. There is also a higher level of self-esteem, and can act as a healthy coping mechanism for obesity and binge eating disorder. There can also be spiritual benefits to mindful eating, which is typically a Buddhist spiritual practice.

If you want to make a change in your life, mindful eating is a great place to start. When you change your perspective about your eating habits, there will be real-life changes that are tangible and will show results. We, at Wild Women Wellness, believe in you. For more information on our services, you can visit our website or give us a call at (650)-271-9453.

Anti-Anxiety Secrets of Natural Medicine: GABA & Phenibut

Phenibut

Suffering with anxiety can be lonely and difficult. Utilizing traditional treatments can create even more apprehension as patients are left with a host of side effects from prescription medications. Naturopathy utilizes nature to help restore balance and a sense of calm. Neurotransmitter GABA and a derivative of GABA called phenibut can have a significant effect on mood based on how high or low their levels are in the body.

GABA & Phenibut in the Body

Low levels of the neurotransmitter GABA have been associated with panic and anxiety disorders, depression, alcoholism and bipolar disorders. GABA is not directly absorbed into the brain, taking GABA is not the best way to restore levels. Phenibut combined with activated B6 can be taken orally and has been shown to provide relief within an hour. Phenibut, which can cross the blood-brain barrier, will bind to GABA B receptors and have an anxiolytic effects. Phenibut is valuable as it is able to lower stress levels without adversely affecting an individual’s performance.

Yoga: The Secret Weapon

Physical activity is a great all-natural way to help the brain produce the feel good endorphins. Even a short exercise session of 20 minutes can help create a sense of calm and improve overall mood and outlook.  While all exercise can increase GABA, yoga, in particular, can act as a powerful catalyst to increased GABA levels.

There is substantial evidence that supports the correlation between yoga practices and GABA levels in the brain. A study was performed with 8 yoga practitioners and 11 control subjects. The yoga practitioners did 60 minutes of yoga posturing and breathing while the control group read quietly for an hour. Following the experiment, MRIs showed 27% increase in GABA compared to the control group. A second study compared 19 yoga practitioners with 15 walkers. The participants did yoga or walked for an hour three times a week for 12 weeks. In the end, Yoga practitioners had improved mood and anxiety compared to those who walked, and MRI results showed increased GABA in the thalamus.

Visit Wild Woman Wellness for Guidance & Support

Dr. Tanya Escobedo of Wild Woman Wellness is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in Redwood City, California. She uses special testing to safely evaluate neurotransmitter imbalance, and uses natural treatments to restore balance by addressing the root cause – without using drugs or causing adverse side effects.  Contact her today for your complimentary 15 minute phone consult.