ARE YOU AN EMOTIONAL EATER?

People who are prone to emotional eating consume food to soothe unpleasant emotions, such as sadness, anger, anxiety or fear. And because food consumption is tied to emotions rather than fulfilling physical needs, overeating is common.

Medical experts, such as those at the Mayo Clinic, acknowledge that emotional eating can be the most difficult component to control for those who want to lose weight. But, there are steps that can help control these difficult urges. Below are some tips:

• Discover your triggers by writing down what you eat and how you're feeling at the time.
• When you're upset, instead of eating take a walk, talk to a friend or do something else to comfort yourself.
• Keep healthy snacks in your kitchen, so when you reach for something, it won’t be a box of cookies. Think unsalted almonds, fruit, Isagenix Snacks! or SlimCakes®
• The Mayo Clinic also acknowledges that certain foods release a small amount of "mood-elevating" hormones. These foods can help satisfy the urge to eat uncontrollably. One of those foods is chocolate.