I read somewhere recently that we are starting to live so far outside our bodies that we are almost a race of walking heads!

We are so ruled by the relentless chatter of our minds that we treat our bodies as something we have to consciously think about, judge and control.

Science is now increasingly showing that our thoughts and emotions are inextricably linked to our bodies (there are over 100 million brain cells in our guts!) – so tuning into your emotions and your physical body can be both illuminating and helpful.

Start to become aware of when you are using your mind and brain to tell yourself how things “should” be or what you “should” be doing. And instead, try to to tune in to your body – to really feel whats going on – both in your emotions and in physically.

You will start to become more aware of when you are using food to numb out the pain – and then be able to more naturally move towards better choices.

Slow down

When we are under any type of emotional stress our metabolism really slows down. And eating on the move or eating whilst working doubles the load put on our digestive systems.

So carve out a little space in your day. And sit down to eat. Even if you are having take-out sandwiches, put them on a plate, sit away from you desk, breathe and focus on enjoying the food. You will eat less and enjoy it much more.

Savour

Eat more slowly – chew properly and really taste your food. And I mean really taste it, savour it, appreciate every mouthful.

It’s so easy to eat without tasting these days – we are all scarfing down food so fast, on the move, in a rush to get somewhere or finish the to-do list that its easy to eat a whole meal without really tasting it.

Excitingly, science is now discovering that saliva contains important substances that can help pain relief and depression. So chewing well is not only going to help you avoid weight gain and digestive problems, but actually makes you happier.

Use all your senses

Really effective digestion uses all the senses. The more you see, touch and smell your food before eating the more revved up your digestion will be (mouth watering anyone?).

It sounds cliched, but sitting in nice surroundings, with your food on pretty plates can make a big difference.

And “eating the rainbow” not only ensures that you are getting a great mix of different nutrients, but a bright and colourful plate of food is far more appetising (again revving up all your digestive enzymes) than a bland bowl of non-descript colour.

Textures can also help. I’m a big fan of comfort food, but a scattering of nuts & seeds can perk up a big bowl of soup or risotto. A scattering of cold goats cheese on a warm sweet potato or a spritz of lime juice on a smooth avocado. These unexpected textures bring a zing that will help to get your digestive juices vibrating.

Become more tactile in everything you do. Be aware of the materials and textures that surround you. Choose beautiful natural materials whenever you can. Be aware of the sense of them on your skin. Tuning in to the feel of things and how they make you feel is a huge step in moving away from the crazy chatter in your head.

Find the pleasure

Don’t force yourself to eat things you don’t like. This isn’t an excuse to binge out on pies or biscuits. But if you don’t like kale for goodness sake don’t force yourself to eat it. Do explore and experiment. But eat the foods you really love.

I find that for so many people, once they explore feeling more, they naturally start to eat in a way that makes them feel better. And start to find processed foods and ready meals a lot less enjoyable. We are so used to cooking quickly and eating quickly that we often don’t realise that the taste and the texture of what we are eating is really not very pleasant.

Most of my clients are amazed at how oblivious they have been to how they are feeling and the effect that food can have on this. And conversely how their emotions have been deeply affecting food choices. And are delighted at how much better they feel when they consciously tune into their bodies more.

There is a saying that what you focus on grows. If you consciously focus on things that you love and enjoying those you will be amazed at the effects on your weight, your health and your happiness.

Jules Anderson is a mother and integrative health & nutrition coach, helping busy, overwhelmed and exhausted parents and professionals lose weight, look younger and feel healthier & happier.

With a 1st class Honours Chemistry degree from Edinburgh University, and many years of personal study and exploration, she went on to train with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York, with pioneers in the health industry such as Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weill and Mark Hyman.

Jules also qualified as a yoga teacher at The Yoga Academy with internationally acclaimed yoga teacher Simon Low and integrates many relaxation techniques into her programmes. She is a firm believer in great food and eating what you love!

You can contact Jules at jules@feelglorious.com

Going through a divorce or a difficult break-up is well documented as “one of the most stressful life events we are ever likely to experience”.

For most of us, this statement doesn’t even begin to touch on the emotional turbulence that we can find ourselves in – a turmoil that can be very difficult to navigate. And the repercussions can seep into our whole lives.

As a health and nutrition coach, I so often find my clients reacting to the hurt, anger and distress of their personal situations with a negative attitude towards themselves and their health.

Thrown into unfamiliar territory and extremes of emotion, we can become worried, scared and often ashamed – frequently turning this against ourselves. And most often this is completely unconscious.

If you find yourself numbing yourself out with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s / bottle of wine or slumped in front of the tv with a takeaway “because I deserve it”, the reality is that it’s often a form of hiding or denial.

On the other extreme we often attempt to show the world we are coping – switching into our “I Will Survive” mode, usually fuelled with coffee, sugar, alcohol and stimulants.

But this rollercoaster of highs and lows wreaks havoc with our bood sugar, with our moods and with our health. And it doesn’t ever resolve the feelings of anger & distress. We can find ourselves gaining weight, finding trouble concentrating, unable to sleep and generally feeling like we want to snap the head of anybody who dares to come near.

It is incredibly important at times like these to look after ourselves well. I’m all for a bit of pampering – but it is really important to learn to discern when the pampering is true caring and when it is really just a way of numbing out the pain.

Dieting, denying ourselves, or imposing strict new regimes at times of real distress rarely works – its too punishing.

But neither does abandoning all boundaries. A more gentle approach to introducing new habits can really help bring some peace and balance back into your life, so that you can begin to take steps forward.

There are lots of really effective ways to start to redress this balance – to smooth away the jagged edges and gently coax your body and emotions back into a more tranquil and pleasurable place. I would like to share a couple of them here.

PART ONE 1- Calm the turbulent emotional seas – with food

Divorce and break up are times of extremes. Extreme sadness, extreme anger – and often extreme distress. Day to day living on this see-saw of energy will wear you out. Understanding the part that food plays in exacerbating this is the first stage in gently bringing yourself back to balance.

In Eastern traditions, from Ayurveda to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a deeper understanding and respect for the energy of different foods and their effect on your body – both physical and emotional.

The basic principles are broadly the same.

Foods at one end of the scale have a heavy (or ‘yang’) energy – and include meat, fats, salt and dairy.  In moderation these foods are grounding and can make us feel nourished and satisfied (think of a hearty beef stew in winter). But too much will make us sluggish, blocked, tired and low.

At the other end of the scale, lighter ‘yin’ foods include sugar, coffee, alcohol and stimulants. In moderation these can be energising, like a good cup of coffee with breakfast or a glass of prosecco with a friend. But too much of these can cause you to become scattered, restless, wired and anxious.

It’s a bit like a see-saw. The majority of us live bouncing wildly between the two extremes of this scale.

For example, salty nuts will make us want more alcohol. Too much sugar and coffee all day has us desperate for a huge plate of pasta in the evening. Too much of one extreme leaves us craving the other – creating a vicious cycle of craving and addiction.

Heavy:  Meat, Sweets, Cakes, Eggs, Cheese, Salt

Heavy/Balanced:  Fish, Poultry, Whole Grains, Nuts, Seeds

Balanced: Vegetables, Oils

Balanced/Light:  Beans, Fruit, Root Veg

Light:  Sugar, Coffee, Alcohol

Whilst a little of everything is fine for most people, the most effective way to start to feel more calm and settled is to choose predominantly foods at the centre of this energy scale.

And if you do want to eat from the far ends, don’t overdo it – and make sure you balance it with some foods from the other end.

This might sound complicated to start with, but once you start to explore and pay attention to the difference this makes – both to your body and your emotions, you will you will find yourself naturally veering towards choices that make you feel better.

There is a great quote that says “how you are with anything is how you are with everything”.

Never is this more true than with food. The more you start to feel calm and balanced in your food choices, without forcing it, the more you will see this reflected in other areas of your life.

Jules is a mother and integrative health & nutrition coach, helping busy, overwhelmed and exhausted parents and professionals lose weight, look younger and feel healthier & happier.

With a 1st class Honours Chemistry degree from Edinburgh University, and many years of personal study and exploration, she went on to train with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York, with pioneers in the health industry such as Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weill and Mark Hyman.

Jules also qualified as a yoga teacher at The Yoga Academy with internationally acclaimed yoga teacher Simon Low and integrates many relaxation techniques into her programmes. She is a firm believer in great food and eating what you love!

photo credit: 06 janvier 2008 Repas Champagne ! (8) via photopin (license)