Food is one of our guiltiest pleasures. Maintaining a healthy diet is critical for our bodies to function correctly, and eating right can lead to a long, happy life. But we have, unfortunately, become a society that has developed an unhealthy relationship with food. From using food as a safety blanket during stressful times, to desperately craving that next “sugar fix”, bad eating habits can lead to a range of long-lasting health and self-esteem problems.

Have you ever heard the phrase “You are what you eat”? While who or what you are is not necessarily defined by what you put into your mouth, the things that we eat and how much of it can have an enormous impact on our lives. Food gives us energy, allows us to grow and is critical in order for the body to function. So, why is it that we can’t simply eat whatever and whenever we want?

From Needing to Eat to Wanting to Eat

During ancient times, the human menu was limited to the few things that we could take from nature. From nuts and grains, wild vegetables and fruits, to venison and fish, our ability to process food has only progressed in recent times. Once we discovered ways to add sugar, salt and a myriad of different preservatives to our diet, people went from eating to survive, to eating to enjoy.

This had led to us becoming dependent on food for more than just nutrition. We have formed a collective habit of eating things that are bad for the body, without caring for the long-term consequences.

Our Unhealthy Relationship with Food

There are plenty of clearly documented eating habits and disorders. Many people suffer from a need to binge eat, while others are labelled compulsive eaters. Worse still, some of us have developed addictions to foods that are easy to become hooked on – those filled with sugars and unhealthy compounds. Obesity and the associated mental health challenges that stem from being overweight are among Australia’s top health issues and need to be urgently addressed.

As we have evolved, our brains have become programmed to encourage us to eat as much as we can. While this urge has been inherited from our ancestors as a result of  the need to eke out a living as wandering nomads, in today’s age, there is plenty of food to go around, and we have fallen victim to our bodies’ and minds’ instinct. Fast and junk foods have created a world that overeats, and as a result of the overwhelming stresses of today, many of us use food as a coping mechanism.

Changing How and Why We Eat

Bad eating habits can be as hard to break as smoking or alcoholism. Readily available in large quantities, many people are faced with obesity and health issues as a result of bad diets and eating more than they should. This then leads to self-esteem problems and, eventually, mental struggles and disorders.

Intense dieting is a short-term fix, often doing more damage than good, and changing out your entire refrigerator is an almost impossible task to maintain. Short of adopting an isolated lifestyle of subsistence farming, we must address the causes of bad eating habits and confront them, personally, in order to break these cravings.

A Sustainable Solution

Bad eating habits come from the brain. Our minds are always looking for a quick fix to satisfy sugar addictions, overcome stress, and make us feel good. The problems come later as we gain weight or face health complications as a result of these harmful habits.

Hypnotherapy, beyond its many other benefits, teaches us to fight off these cravings and learn to defeat the urge to give in to these bad habits. Therapists can use positive affirmations, visualizations and if the client wishes aversion therapy, to condition an ultra-relaxed mind to re-develop a healthy relationship with food.

While the principal goals of long-term weight loss, overcoming food addictions, and improved diet are readily attainable, the more enduring benefits of a healthy lifestyle and invigorated self-esteem are the real prizes of using hypnotherapy to break those bad eating habits.

 Perth Hypnotherapists Linda and Jan  are able to create a lasting solution for those struggling with finding the will to eat correctly. Whether addressing the emotional stress that causes cravings or treating the depression that leads to overeating, hypnosis has been proven to work in teaching clients to change their relationship with food.

So, before you grab that next mega-burger or double-thick milkshake, think about what it is that is stopping you from choosing a healthier alternative. A healthy food lifestyle is always the better option, and Hypnocare Hypnosis Clinic is here to help.