Do you have a stressful job like I do? Does it seem like everyone is out to get you and that common sense doesn’t play a role in anything related to your company? Well, guess what? That can cause you to gain weight.
Stress can increase your hunger tremendously.
Cortisol, the “fight or flight” hormone is a huge culprit in weight gain once your body hits a certain level of stress.
Why, you ask?
Because when you stress, the body thinks you are burning calories to deal with it, even if you haven’t even lifted a finger; per Dr Pamela Peeke, Assistant Professor at University of Maryland. Your body per Dr Peeke thinks you need to replace those calories even if you don’t.
Cortisol rises when you because tense or stressed. This is where bad eating habits form. Increased levels of Cortisol cause higher insulin levels, and when your blood sugar drops you start to crave unhealthy foods such as sugar or fat.
This is where the word “comfort food” comes from. Instead of craving natural sugars or salads (tomatoes are fruit and loaded with natural sugar) you crave starchy fatty, or sugary foods. Studies have shown that eating can reduce stress and lower the cortisol hormone because hormones such as serotonin are released as a chemical response and can be calming. We all have a natural love for sweets and fatty foods, so they are the issue when we are stressed, we eat. The key point here is that more stress means more cortisol with means higher want for junk food which in turn makes more belly fat. (Dr Shawn M Talbot, nutritional biochemist).
So, what are the effects of stress in the long haul? Extra weight can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and more including mental issues such as depression and anxiety.
In closing I would like to say, we all have different types of stress, and deal with it differently. The way around that would be when you know you are stressed, don’t run to the food pantry or run through the drive through at your local fast food restaurant; just run, get some exercise and that will help lower your stress level. It has been proven that even a short walk with help calm your stress. Other known calming exercises include meditation, yoga, and tai chi. Other ways of relaxing include reading, listening to music, praying, and getting plenty of sleep.
Have a bless day and please check out my website for great products that help with lowering your A1C, blood pressure and your weight!
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References:
WebMD, and Dr Shawn T Talbot’s website.





