Most of us have bad habits that are hard to stop. Unwise diets are killing more people than smoking. Some bad habits can result in serious complications. They can lead to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, digestive problems and heart problems.
1. Eating while distracted
Eating while reading newspapers or watching television, can lead to overeating. A recent study has found that people who watched TV over two hours daily ate more high-calorie snacks than people who watched less. When you’re distracted, you’re likely to eat more than need to. The solution? Instead, focus on the food and the process of eating it.
2. Not paying attention to portion sizes
When you’re not paying attention to your portion sizes, it’s easy to overeat. The suggested serving sizes are often smaller than people think. Get control of your portion sizes. The solution?Spread your calories that you are consuming throughout the day.
3. Not drinking enough water
We already know by now that water is one of the most important things our body needs to survive. It is even more important for your body’s survival than food. The amount of water in the human body is about 70%. Most people don’t drink enough water. It is recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
4. Eating during stress situations
Stress can affect your mental and physical health.Stress can play a part in problems such as depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension and immune system disturbances. When they’re stressed out, we tend to reach for comfort foods. Increased stress will cause more cortisol release, and in a result, cause food cravings. Eating healthy can reduce stress too.Try to avoid high sugar and high-fat snacks during stressful situations.
5. Eating too fast
Eating too fast may lead to obesity. When you eat fast, you tend to eat more food and calories than you need. Fast eating has also been linked to diabetes, gastritis, heart disease and stroke.
6. Under-eating
Under-eating can affect physical and mental health. Under-eating is commonly known as dieting. For some people, under-eating becomes a way of life.Often these diets only focus on short-term results. Instead, we should be focusing on the quality of the food we consume and maintaining a healthy weight. Eating a healthy diet keeps you physically and mentally fit.
7. Eating too much
You don’t have to empty your plate. Stop eating as soon as you’re full, rather than stuffing yourself with unnecessary calories. Overeating is yet another form of an eating disorder. Symptoms of overrating are: binge eating, or eating even when not physically hungry, eating alone due to embarrassment, awareness that eating patterns are abnormal, feelings of guilt due to overeating, withdrawal from activities because of embarrassment about weight, preoccupation with body weight, history of weight fluctuations, history of many different unsuccessful diets, eating little in public, but maintaining a high body weight, hiding food in strange places, depression or mood swings and eating much more rapidly than normal.
