We often hear nutrition advice about eating more fruits and veggies or consuming less sodium. But what happens when you slow down and mindfully eat your food?

You'll digest your food better.

Enjoyment relaxes your body and nervous system. So when you are eating food that tastes good and brings you pleasure, you're also triggering digestion by relaxing the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract and increasing digestive juices.

You'll absorb more nutrients.

When it comes to nutrient absorption, taste matters. Studies have shown that when you slow down and enjoy the taste of food, your body is able to relax and absorb the proper nutrients.

You'll be satisfied with less.

There's certainly a difference between feeling physically full and feeling satisfied. If you aren't completely satisfied with the food you're eating, it becomes easier to overeat. When you don't get that 'feel good' sensation you're seeking, your brain interprets that missed experience as hunger, so you continue to eat in an attempt to feel satisfied. When you enjoy the food you eat, it is much easier to stop eating when you are full. Plus, slowing down to enjoy your food helps you realize when you're getting full because your stomach has time to signal to your brain that it's had enough.