Pleasure Eating

Dear readers, have you ever thought that food would be the answer to feeling down-hearted, depressed, lonely, and isolated?
Well, of course, you have as this is a universal form of emotional “healing” and so the very thought of banishing the blues is enough to stimulate the taste buds!

But ultimately, eating the entire bar of chocolate, which you vowed you would not, will more likely arouse that ghastly emotion of guilt. The down side is that many pleasure foods upset the digestive system, causing nutrients to be excreted, and perhaps increase levels of cortisol and insulin signaling the body to store fat. So it stands to reason that meals evenly spaced are better for digestion and metabolism as against brief rushes of satisfaction.

No one suggests that languishing over food is the answer, but rushing through meals while watching TV is certainly not conducive to health. And what may be deemed a pleasurable experience; munching away at speed, only upsets metabolic processes. This rapid guzzling can affect long term kilojoule burning, resulting in fats being deposited.

As for fast foods, our survival does not depend on buckets of greasy chips, doughnuts, highly salted crisps, and so on, albeit that at the time they enhance a pleasurable experience.
No doubt the huge array of fast foods ingested offers more leisure time in a frantic world, but there is a downside regarding high sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol, offering poor nutrition.
In addition to these negatives, the linings of fast food containers contain harmful chemicals called ‘phthalates’ – types of plasticizers used in pizza box liners and bags of food that can be put into the microwave.

Physically, we humans develop from infants to adults, minus cocoon or chrysalis stage, have an upright posture and mobility rare to many animals, though the cheetah will outdo us in any marathon! As humans, we do not hibernate securing fullness of the digestive tract for existence in months to come or eat more-or-less once a week like other carnivores.
Therefore, as the human race, we have the intellect to plan our days and modify our eating habits.

Boredom can go hand in hand with unnecessary snacking, and one needs to distance the mind from cravings and to encourage rewarding activities like running or jogging, reading a good book, tackling unfinished tasks ` all of which can result in positivity and sense of achievement!

In conclusion, has the lock-down had an influence on our eating habits? Yes indeed, according to research. Attitudes toward food have changed quite dramatically, minus the morning rush for breakfast and a get-away, we now have more leisure time with regards to planning meals and a greater appreciation for the homely environment.

An added interest in food and experimentation may even be the catalyst for the creation of future gourmet chefs!