Ok. Scenario ONE. You are going through a tough patch. Stresses, of the tiny niggling variety. Or them HUGE heartbreak types. And suddenly you find, either you are ending up putting on weight, eating more than you should. Or you are eating very little, and looking emaciated.
Or MAYBE.
Scenario TWO. You are just very upbeat and gung ho about life. Say, you are at a career peak - great news - but you are meeting so many people and partying so hard that … well, you are eating all kinds of stuff, that you normally would not. The weighing scales are going places, the clothes are not fitting and the darn acidity is killing that world-conquering smile!
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The right amount of food to eat, Ahara Matra, food quantity. In Ayurveda, it isn't just about calories or portions. Its way more practical. It’s based on something called sensory-specific-satiety (SSS).
Meaning, as you eat a certain food, your body - sense of taste, smell, texture in the mouth, aesthetics of food and its sounds as you much - naturally signal when you're satisfied, allowing you to enjoy the meal fully and when you've had just the right amount, stop.
When we focus on eating, without distractions. When we look at our food. When we taste each bite and chew our food properly, we can sense this feeling of satisfaction more quickly. And once we recognize SSS, overeating becomes much less likely.
Ayurveda provides guidelines, known as 'Ashta Ahara Vidhi Visheshayatana', which are traditional methods to help us recognize the right amount of food and avoid overeating. Take a good dekko.
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HOW TO EAT | AYURVEDIC INTELLIGENCE (desi AI)
1. Ushna – Food should be warm
2. Snigdha – It should be smooth and lubricated
3. Mataravata – Eaten in the right quantity
4. Jeerne – Only after the previous meal is fully digested
5. Viryaviruddha – Foods should be compatible with each other
6. Ishta Deshe – Eaten in a suitable place and position
7. Ishta Sarvopakaranama – Meals should satisfy personal preferences
8. Nati Drutam – Eat neither too fast
9. Nati Vilambita – Nor too slow
10. Ajalpan – Without talking
11. Ahasan – Without laughing
12. Tanmana – With full concentration
Take a good, deep look, in fact, pls RE-READ points, 8-12.
They make all the difference in avoiding stress eating or social munching.
By focusing on the food, avoiding distractions, and eating mindfully, we allow our body’s natural cues to tell us when to stop.
Now, sure, this may hamper our habitual social life, but hey, its better than hampering our entire life! Besides, you can do something which I try ... order some warm water, or green tea. Keep sipping and keep enjoying the party, your success or festivities ... without harming your body.
As far as stress eating is concerned, you’ll be amazed when you begin to eat in a Tanmana-style how that becomes the calmest time for you in the day!
Experiment, and know for yourself.
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