Whether it’s a fight with a spouse, a deadline at work, or simply just too much to do, everyone has stress to deal with. But when faced with a lot of it, stress can take hold of our eating habits.
Stress Eating (or Not Eating)
Susan Albers, PsyD, of Cleveland Clinic, says there is a definite connection between stress and our appetite, but the connection isn’t the same for everyone.
“Some people overeat when they feel stressed and some people lose track of their appetite,” she says. “They’re so focused on their stress that they don’t hear or tune into their hunger cues.”
Albers adds that our brains send cues to our bodies when we’re feeling stressed and that while stress makes some folks tune out their hunger cues, it can make others turn into emotional eaters and cause them to mindlessly munch on snacks in an attempt to soothe their nerves.
When the body is being pumped full of cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” it can make folks crave sugary, salty and fatty foods, because the brain thinks it needs fuel to fight the stress.
Combating Emotional Eating
Albers says that daily demands from work and even from the constant presence of electronic devices puts people at a high risk for stress eating.
She notes the best way to combat stress or emotional eating is to be mindful of what triggers stress eating and to be prepared to combat it.
“If you are someone who is prone to emotional eating, know your triggers; know what stresses you out; be prepared,” Albers says. “Also come armed with snacks. Helping to regulate your blood sugar throughout the day is going to keep your body stable and your emotions on a much better playing field.”
Albers adds that it’s also a good idea for folks to keep things at their desk that will help reduce anxiety, like a stress ball, and to allow a five minute break to close their eyes and take some deep breaths.
Article courtesy of Cleveland Clinic News Service.
