The good intentions of a large group of Brabanders have already ended up in the trash. It is especially difficult for those who want to lose weight. In many cases, the temptation of unhealthy food such as chips and chocolate proves to be too great. According to brain professor Esther Aarts from Eindhoven, this is explainable. “In the past, food was scarce, so we wanted to consume as many calories as possible in a short time.”
“It is the combination of fats, fast carbohydrates and salt that our brains respond so strongly to,” said Aarts, who conducts research into eating behavior in relation to the brain, at Afslag Zuid on Omroep Brabant radio. “It’s not just the reward areas in our brain that are affected, but also our emotions, our collection and control areas.”
According to the professor, this causes problems in today’s society. “Nowadays you see calories everywhere around you, so an advantage from the past is now more of a problem,” she explains.
In addition, according to Aarts, the producers of unhealthy food know how to make us tasty. “It is our job to resist that. You can do this mainly by consciously enjoying food.”
“Put your chips in a container.”
The problem is mainly how we eat. “Many people carelessly eat a bag of chips with their phone in their hand. If you eat mindfully, you enjoy it more. For example, put your chips in a bowl,” she advises.
It is best not to bring unhealthy products into your home. If you have them, hide them, she advises. “Put that bar of chocolate at the back of the cupboard and put the vegetables, fruit and unsalted nuts in plain view.”
“Think about what you want to change.”
In addition, according to Aarts, you should set clear goals for yourself. “You have to make your goals concrete. Think about what you want to change, how you are going to do that and how you are going to measure it.”
According to her, January is the perfect time to start doing this. “During the holidays, people have had a lot of time to think about what they find important. Their own intention to change something often works better than the idea that you are not allowed to do something.”
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