Intuitive Eating Intro

Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating is a practice that focuses on developing a healthy relationship with food and your body. Rather than following strict diets or rules, intuitive eating encourages individuals to listen to their body's natural hunger and fullness cues, and to eat foods that are both satisfying and nourishing. Intuitive eating can help individuals heal their relationship with food and their body, leading to improved physical and mental health.

Intuitive eating was first introduced by two registered dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, in their book "Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works." The philosophy behind intuitive eating is based on ten principles, which include rejecting the diet mentality, honoring hunger and fullness, making peace with food, and respecting your body.

One of the key principles of intuitive eating is rejecting the diet mentality. This means letting go of the idea that there are "good" or "bad" foods, and instead focusing on nourishing your body with a variety of foods that satisfying. By rejecting the diet mentality, individuals can break free from the cycle of restriction and bingeing, and begin to listen to their body's natural hunger and fullness cues.

Intuitive eating can also help individuals make peace with food. This means letting go of food guilt and shame, and allowing yourself to enjoy all types of foods without judgment. By removing the stigma and morality associated with food, individuals can develop a healthier relationship with food, and reduce the likelihood of bingeing/overeating (More about this on a future blog post).

Research has shown that intuitive eating can lead to a variety of health benefits. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that individuals who practiced intuitive eating had improved body image and self-esteem, as well as reduced rates of disordered eating behaviors. Other studies have shown that intuitive eating can lead to improved metabolic health, such as lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

If  you are interested in exploring intuitive eating, consider working with a registered dietitian who specializes in this approach, and be patient and compassionate with yourself as you learn to trust your body's natural wisdom.

Sources:

1.     Tribole, E. and Resch, E. (2012). Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin.

2.     Tylka, T.L. (2016). Intuitive Eating Scale-2: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation with college women and men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(6), 616-627.

3.     Van Dyke, N. and Drinkwater, E.J. (2014). Relationships between intuitive eating and health indicators: literature review. Public Health Nutrition, 17