Is Stress Eating Real? 5 Ways to Lower The Streak of Overeating

Stress Eating: Do you think you gain weight during exams? Do you eat more when there is an important work week ahead? Well yes, stress can make us do all of that.

Do you feel stressed, anxious, tired? Is this the time when your healthy diet takes a hit and you just want to hog your comfort food, because that’s the need of the hour? This is called stress eating. And don’t worry, somewhere, at some point, we’ve all been guilty of it. While stress and food may not be the best combination, we tend to overeat because the mind seems to feel a sense of relief. However, this relief is temporary.

Stress eating is real. When we feel stressed, our glands make the stress hormone cortisol. This spike in cortisol level can further increase your appetite and create a craving for sugary, salty, and basically junk foods. Usually it is not because the stomach is empty or the body requires energy from food, it is mainly because the brain feels stressed. Uncomfortable emotions find solace in fatty foods high in sugar.

But it’s important to understand these stressors and learn to manage them. Overeating due to stress only adds to a sedentary lifestyle. And if it is prolonged, it can cause other health complications such as weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, etc.

There are a few steps that can help you manage stress and avoid stress eating:

TIPS FOR MANAGING EATING DUE TO STRESS

1. Eat foods that fight stress: – To beat stress, the nutrient profile of a food can be just as important as how it makes you feel. Nutrient-dense foods, such as complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, can prompt the brain to increase serotonin production and stabilize blood pressure as a way to reduce stress.
2. Include Daily Dose of Exercise: Physical activity releases a hormone known as dopamine that makes us feel better, thus overcoming any low mood you may have been feeling. Try to increase the amount of walking, gardening, cleaning, and other forms of movement and exercise.
3. speak it: Calling a friend or family member may be enough to ease the feeling, having a book ready to read, or taking up a hobby that you can do when you feel bored. Fill your day with activity, so you’re less inclined to fill your stomach.
4. Have a meal pattern: Try to stick to a meal schedule. This not only helps keep your blood sugar stable and controls hunger, but also makes you succumb to stress over eating.
5. Stay Hydrated – We know water is important and hydration is the key to staying healthy. But, as we drink water, it takes up space in the stomach and reduces the risk of overeating.

So when it comes to learning how to stop stress eating, understanding your body and its triggers and having a plan of action are your best lines of defense.