All of us are busy and surrounded by different “stressors” – and some of us handle stress better than others! Stress and Emotions can affect your eating habits.
PHYSICAL STRESS
- During chronic stress, in order to survive a famine the body goes into fat storage
- During acute stress, the body’s appetite shuts down – who needs to be thinking about lunch when you are about to become lunch – and stored energy is mobilized for fighting or fleeing.
- Research that indicates we reach for crunchy foods when we’re angry, sugary food when we’re depressed, soft, sweet foods when we’re anxious and salty foods when we’re stressed.
STRESS HORMONES
Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:
- Impaired cognitive performance
- Suppressed thyroid function
- Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
- Decreased bone density
- Decrease in muscle tissue
- Higher blood pressure
- Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences
- Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body.
Strategies to Eat for Energy not Emotion
- Learn to recognize true hunger
- Keep a log to track your triggers
- Do look elsewhere for comfort
- Try an enjoyable activity- knitting, drawing, reading
- Go for a short walk.
- Listen to your favorite song
- Play a video game
- Talk to a friend on the phone
- Choose from a variety of lifestyle changes that include raising your metabolism, counting calories, avoiding liquid calories, eating whole foods, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and of course practicing some form of stress management on a daily basis
5 methods to reduce stress
- Exercise
- Deep breathing
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Yoga
- Meditation
Learn more about Emotional Eating in my book, Psyched to be Skinny, How to Stop Emotional Eating, Enjoy Healthy Weight Loss & Keep it off for Life!
Health & Bliss to You,
Susie