Nutrition
Feeding body and soul
Intuitive eating rejects a diet mentality and encourages us to pay attention to natural cues for hunger and fullness. How might you benefit?
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Feeling battered by years of dieting? You've seemingly tried everything to lose weight: low-calorie, low-sugar, low-fat, low-carb — and frankly, low-satisfaction — regimens that left you worse off and worn out.
If the description fits, you may be drawn to an entirely different approach. Called intuitive eating, the decades-old concept is designed to help people stuck in the cycle of dieting build a better relationship with food. Fundamental is the notion that our bodies intrinsically know what, when, and how much to eat to stay nourished. But a lifetime of relentless messaging — from orders to "clean your plate" to parades of stick-thin models — have stopped many of us from listening to that inner voice.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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