In this modern era, eating has become a social event. Eating while watching television,or browsing computers or smartphone has become a common habit. A group of researchers in Spain identified the key habits that cause weight gain and they found eating while watching TV is one of them. Destruction shifts attention from actual eating. Eating thusbecomesmindless.We need to make eating an internal act instead of a social event. When we are more physically active, our sympathetic nerves playa major role and it can hamper our digestionbut when we are calmer,  our parasympathetic nerves become more active, whichincreases the activity of the Enteric Nervous system   ( gut) which helpsdigestion. When we are in a relaxed state of mind the parasympathetic nerves are more active and stimulate pancreatic juice secretion and helpthe absorption process.  But when our mind is depressed or stressed, the sympathetic nerves become more active and inhibit pancreatic juice secretion and hinder the absorption process. As early as 1833 physician Beaumont observed that being emotionally upset affects stomach activities. Physiologists Langly 1ST told about the autonomic nervous system in the year 1921. But from 1980 biologists accepted the enteric system. But our ancient Ayurvedic and  Yogic System which is more than 5000 years old understand our physiological system more correctly and emphasize the importance of prayingbefore taking food or maintaining silence during the meal are to required activate the parasympathetic nervous system for better digestion. When we are stressed our sympathetic nerves get activated, the natural tendency of our body is to evacuate the gastrointestinal content and this reduces the body weight. If we end up eating in this state, then we cause our bodies a great deal of harm. This is a point that many people do not understand. However, this is a common state of affairs in our modern world. Many business people have lunch in a stressed state, anxious to get a large account or contract from an important client, thereby finishing their food in a hurry. When the stressful state becomes ongoing, the different parts of the gastrointestinal tract start to work independently. Communication breaks down between cells, organs, and their various functions. The stomach may secrete too much acid while the intestine secretes too little of something else. It results inthe inability to digest and we lose touch with our body.
Some animals have evolved mechanisms to adapt to stress. For example, rabbits and other ruminants have developed a stomach in which they can deposit grass. While eating in an open sunny area, exposed to predators, the animal must be continually alert and excited so as to be prepared to flee at the slightest warning signal. Later when the animal is safe in the cool protection,   it can regurgitate the rumen and chew carefully and thoroughly, enjoy the food as it should be enjoyed. Human beings have no such mechanismhowever they need to rely on common senses. It is important to not get distracted during eating by adopting good habits like calming down the mind before eating through prayers or meditationor through maintaining science and not focusing on anything else during eating.

Posted By Subhabrata Bhattacharjee, Lifestyle Coach, Founder Director MANTRA

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