We go out to eat to congratulate a birthday, anniversary, promotion, etc. Or we entertain around banquet parties and holidays. At church functions, there are social and potluck meals. You assign it and in some way it all revolves close to food. Yes food has a important part in our lives of comfort and entertainment. Culturally and instinctively we prepare and serve foods to comfort those who have experienced loss, to celebrate happiness or to display friendship and care for. Food is very important in our lives. Without consuming food we would not be able to carry out our daily activities. Our muscles would wither, our nervous system would stop working. We all need food.

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL EATING?

But are you also eating whenever you are lonely or sad? Seeing food as more than just a source of energy and enjoying it simply for the satisfaction it gives is not wrong. In fact science shows that food can promote good feelings by chemical reactions caused in our brains.

What the problem is when a human being cannot practice pain, anxiety, enjoyment or even being upset without turning to food as means of dealing with those feelings, or they are obsessed with food, weight and dieting.

Emotional eaters turn to food as a source of disturbance from dealing with feelings. However, eating these foods leads to feelings of guilt which can only be soothed with more eating, strict dieting, excessive exercise or purging.

Emotional eaters tend to appreciate themselves based on their weight and how closely they have stuck to their 'ideal' diet. Because of this out of the track relationship with food, foods are labelled "GOOD" and "BAD". Emotional eating can lead to dangerous eating disorders and mental problems.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M AN EMOTIONAL EATER?

Do you turn to food for reasons other than starvation? Are you obsessed with thoughts of food - whether you plan to eat it or concentrate on restricting yourself from eating it?

Do you frequently try diets and fail - leading to guilt and further over eating? Do you think about or attempt to purge excess food by throwing up or using laxatives? Do you exercise on impulse when you think you've eaten too much?


HOW DO I OVERCOME EMOTIONAL EATING?

While emotional eating is a result by looking at food as a coping strategy for emotional distress dieting can in fact create more problems. When the emotional eater fails to run through to a diet they suffer feelings of guilt that can only be soothed with more food and in turn, more guilt or punishment. It is a chain reaction after all.

Instead of trying to concentrate on what they are eating, the emotional eater needs to realize new skills for coping with nerve racking emotions. Frequently this requires the help of a Personal Coach or Psychotherapist who deals with emotional eating. It is only by finding replacements for the comfort food provided that the person can put food into its correct place and learn healthy eating practice that last a life.

When you get elderly, your eating system also cannot absorb what you have eaten. Especially, individuals who pass the age of over 40, has to be much more careful on their emotions.

About Author / Additional Info:
Ali Engin Senyuva is the author of YourOver40Diet.com. He is sharing his experiences on healthy living over the age of 40. Please visit his site.