Nutrition experts at SIBF recommend eating mindfully for your health

Rossy, a US-based health psychologist, author and yoga teacher, said she teaches people to become aware of their hunger signals to combat their lack of awareness about why they eat. She pointed out that mindfulness is an effective way to curb emotional eating, saying: “A brownie won’t solve your anger, instead you go for a walk.”

She added that while she doesn’t believe in diet fads like Keto OMAD and others, she is aware that some may do well with them. “Body appreciation and gratitude are the biggest part of my teaching,” the author said.

Nilly Shams, a doctor from Egypt who has a doctorate in nutrition and public health, pointed out that eating to relieve stress is unacceptable. “Don’t tell yourself you’re hungry just because you’re not busy,” said the doctor, whose health-related videos are popular on his channels. She advised listeners to avoid junk food and soft drinks and reduce calorie intake. “A home diet is best because we know the ingredients but spread the foods out over time.”

Both guests agreed that the Mediterranean diet is healthy.

The session titled “Transforming our Relationship with Food” hosted by nutrition expert Dr. Mohammad al Ghandoor moderated, followed by a book signing of her latest book “Savor Every Bite: Mindful Ways to Eat, Love your Body and Live with Joy” by Rossy.

SIBF 2024, which runs until November 17, has opened its doors to over 2,520 publishers from 112 countries and celebrates Morocco as a guest of honor. The 12-day cultural extravaganza, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, has the theme “It Starts with a Book” and features 1,357 activities for children and adults.