Is Stress Eating Real? 5 ways to reduce the streak of overeating

Stress Eating: Do You Think You’ll Gain Weight During Exams? Do you eat more when an important work week is coming up? Well, yes, stress can make us do all of that.

Do you feel stressed, anxious, tired? Is this the time when your healthy diet goes bottleneck and all you want to do is enjoy your comfort food because that’s the need of the hour? This is called stress eating. And don’t worry, somewhere, we’ve all been guilty of it at some point. 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 release the stress hormone cortisol. This increase in cortisol levels can further increase appetite and create an urge to eat sugary, salty, and basically junk food. It is usually not because the stomach is empty or the body needs food energy, but mainly because the brain is stressed. The uncomfortable emotions find solace in high-fat, sugary foods.

But it’s important to understand and manage these stressors. Overeating due to stress only adds to the sedentary lifestyle. And if it goes on for a long time, it can lead to other health complications like weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity etc.

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

TIPS TO MANAGE STRESS EATING

1. Eat foods that fight stress: – To overcome stress, the nutritional profile of a food can be just as important as how you feel. Foods that contain abundant nutrients, such as complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, can prompt the brain to increase serotonin production and stabilize blood pressure as a way to reduce stress.
2. Including daily dose of exercise: Physical activity releases the hormone dopamine which makes us feel better, overcoming any depression you may have been feeling. Try to increase your walking, gardening, cleaning, and other forms of exercise and exercise.
3. Talk it out: Calling a friend or family member might be enough to make the feeling go away, have a book ready to read, or pick up a hobby to do when you’re bored. Fill your day with activity so you’re less likely to fill your stomach.
4. Have a meal pattern: Try to stick to an eating schedule. Not only will this help keep your blood sugar levels stable and hunger pangs at bay, but it will also make you succumb to stress eating.
5. Stay Hydrated: We know that water is important and hydration is key to staying healthy. But when we drink water, it takes up space in the stomach and lowers the risk of overeating.

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