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NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF WATCHING MOBILE PHONE DURING MEALS
*WATCHING, BROWSING, SCROLLING YOUR SMARTPHONE, DURING MEAL TIME*

*ITS NEGATIVE IMPACTS, IN LIGHT OF SCIENCE AND ISLAM*

Present generation is so addictive of mobile phones that even while eating or drinking the eyes are towards the screen and hands on the food. What are its negative impacts on health.
First of all this habit causes distraction.It is obvious that indulgence with our mobile phones will distract us from eating normally. Distraction either leads to overeating or eating less than what is required. When the brain is taken up by the sight of smartphone screen, it will under utilise the other sensory elements especially smell, taste and sight which are closely linked to eating and because the body doesn't get to appreciate these eating senses, our ability to enjoy the food diminishes. Ultimately we fail to appreciate the taste, aroma and look of the food and the good virtues that come with eating. So during this type of eating, we are playing with the food rather than eating. So keep watching or browsing the screen during meal times keeps us lost in another world that we lose focus on the objective of eating healthy. It distracts the mind from reaching proper appetite resulting in improper metabolism and often leads to obesity according to recent medical research. The use of smartphones during meals can also influence the number of injested calories. Therefore use of smart screens during meals can have a very negative impact on health including brain & stomach problems. It can lead to loss of appetite, indigestion, acidity, obesity, bad posture etc.
So while eating try to avoid the use of smartphone, close your screens (computers, Laptops, TV's etc) during meal times.
Now in light of Islam, what are the etiquettes of eating food. Our Beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) has taught us about each & everything. His teachings about the healthy eating habits include, Mindful eating, Respect of food, avoiding unnecessary talking while eating, praising both, the food and the cook, avoid carping the food and so on.
Mindful eating means that you should pay your full attention towards your meals while eating. It means that all the sensory organs should be involved in this act. By doing so, we can enjoy the real taste and purpose of food. By praising the food, our brain releases some harmones (feel good harmones) that gives us the sense of pleasure and satisfaction. This helps in the proper digestion and absorption of food. so the aim of eating food is fulfilled and the meals are really enjoyed. Therefore we must avoid using our smartphones during meal times to save ourselves and our children from this bad habit. We intentionally or unintentionally transfer this bad habit to our children which can have serious consequences in the due course of time. How can we get rid of this bad habit ?
The answer is;
1)Keep your smartphone at a distance or out of sight before you start your meals.
2) Have your meals in a room where there is no TV, LCD etc.
3) Switch off your Computer, Laptop, TV before meal time.
4) It is better to eat together with family or friends.
All the aforementioned suggestions can help in getting rid of distraction during eating and can lead to good & healthy eating habits.