The Role of Pleasure in Healthy Eating: How “Vitamin P” Can Transform Your Diet

Almost everyone has their favourite food or cuisine to eat when they feel so. Majority of us derive a lot of pleasure from the food we eat and some of us eat for the pleasure of consuming a particular food item. Eating is supposedly one of the greatest pleasures in life!

Other than making mealtimes an enjoyable experience, experiencing pleasure from food also is shown to have significant health benefits. Savoring the food when eating aids in digestion, improves the relationship with food and can also help in overcoming disordered eating.

According to some experts, “vitamin P” (for pleasure) is equally important as the vitamins present in the food you eat. In this article, we will talk about why pleasure is important when it comes to food.

The Psychology Behind Eating Food for Pleasure

Experts have studied the science behind eating for enjoyment or pleasure to which the findings were not only encouraging but also intriguing. Physiologically, the pleasure which the people get from eating their favorite food comes from not only the food in our mouths but as well as the brain. Any type of pleasure causes release of dopamine in the brain, which is famously known as the ‘feel good hormone,’ as it triggers the reward pathways in the brain, which in turn leads to feelings of happiness, motivation, calmness and focus ⁽¹⁾.

An older study from 2011 showed that obese individuals can have disrupted dopamine sensitivity that can cause them to overeat in order to get that sufficient pleasure from food ⁽²⁾. When brain chemistry is functioning in the correct manner, eating our favorite food can lead to physical benefits. When there is pleasure derived from eating the food we enjoy, it stimulates the dopamine, which leads to better digestion and effective metabolization of the food. Eating for pleasure also encourages healthier eating habits.

A large review from 2020 where about 119 studies were assessed regarding the association between food enjoyment and a healthy diet showed that about 57% of the studies had favorable associations between pleasure derived during eating and dietary results ⁽³⁾.

Another study from 2015, linked increased eating pleasure with increased nutritional status ⁽⁴⁾. There are other studies which have emphasized the importance of taking pleasure from healthy foods to encourage nourishing and balanced diet ⁽⁵⁾.

There is a common thought or belief that healthy food is supposed to be bland or not taste good, however, it is not necessarily true. It is important to like and enjoy the food we eat, as it increases the satisfaction and also enhances the quality of the food we eat and cuts down the chances of overeating or bingeing on food.

Foods Provide Us with Physical as Well As Emotional Nourishment

It would be pretty boring and mundane if we ate food for energy only and not enjoy its taste. Eating is one of the popular things to do when we humans get together, as it brings everyone closer. There is food at board meetings, there is food at any wedding parties or functions, there is food at funerals; food is very much an integral part of everyone’s life.  Food acts as not only a physical nourishment but also an emotional one.

Some of the ways food can be enjoyed are:

Enjoying your Food Strengthens Social Connection

When people get together for any event, there has to be food for munching in between all the talk. A study from 2015 says that enjoying food contributes to an increased sense of happiness ⁽⁶⁾.

Enjoying your Food Increases the Connection with Culture

Studies have shown that for decades, having a sense of belonging is important to mental health ⁽⁷⁾.  Food enjoyment plays an important role in this. Tradition and culture is a vital connection with others and ourselves. Restricting foods that promote this connection can result in loneliness and disengagement. By not eating the cultural foods, one sends a message that this food is bad and also the identity which comes with this food is bad.  Embracing these foods can give one a sense of belonging and freedom that enhances mental health.

Enjoying your Food Gives You Emotional and Physical Comfort

Drinking warm chicken soup when down with the flu or having pasta which reminds you of your grandmother all these things connect with you emotionally and not only lifts the spirits, but also soothes the bodies. At the end of a difficult day, food gives you a lot of comfort and there are many benefits to enjoying your food.

Enjoying your Food Breaks the Mould of Diet Culture

Diet culture has different meanings; however, one hallmark the society says is that you have to turn down food which you love if it is high in fat or calories. Mindfully enjoying what you want to eat is helpful in breaking this negative mentality. You can eat everything in moderation and give your body what it needs to function. Moderation is the key; one cannot just simply binge eat sugary and processed food. Understanding the science behind food will help in understanding what is beneficial for your body and where to draw the line.

Eating for Pleasure vs. Emotional Eating

Emotional eating is one of the common terms to be used in today’s time. When one turns towards foods during difficult times and emotions, such as anger, stress or sadness, this can cause binge eating or mindless consumption of food and creates a difficult relationship with food.  The good news is that emotional eating and eating for pleasure are both completely different when it comes to their intent and the results.

Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to cope with their emotions. Eating for pleasure is choosing a particular dish to enjoy its texture, taste and experience. Another major difference between these two is the connection felt towards the food. Most often, there is lack of emotional connection with the food which one consumes during a bout of emotional eating. When one eats food for pleasure, there is always a sense of connection and enjoyment that one derives from the food.

Of course, there may be cases where these two can overlap. One way to tell is how does one feel after eating? If you are mindfully eating and enjoying your food, then there won’t be any sense of guilt.

Pleasure and Nourishment, A Match Made in Heaven

There are few things in life which can surpass the joy of eating your favorite dish. The food that we eat comforts our spirits, nourishes our bodies and pleases our taste buds. Whenever you are preparing your food or snack, see if there is anything which you can add or change to make it more enjoyable for you, such as adding some goat cheese to the healthy salad makes it tastier or microwaving that brownie to enhance its taste. These little things can make your food the act of just eating to provide nourishment to making it an act of enjoyment when eating. After you have eaten your meal, think about how much pleasure you have derived from it and what else can be done to enhance it.

Conclusion

Pleasure and enjoying your food are important when it comes to getting all the benefits of the food. Eating your food with positive feelings leave you feeling more satisfied and happier after a meal. Enjoying your food connects you to your culture and the people you are surrounded with.  Food for many is their identity, where they come from and who they are. So, it is very important to get your dose of vitamin P when you eat your food.

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