How Does Chronic Stress Effect Our Appetites?

My post today is to help you learn what chronic, or long term, stress can do to our appetites and bodies.  The research I’m doing for this post is just as much for you as it is for me.  The simple truth is that stress can contribute to overeating and weight gain.  Research from the America Psychological Association shows that about ¼ of Americans rate their stress level as 8 or more!

Short term and long term stress effect our appetites and cravings in a different way.  Short term stress can decrease our appetite because of the fight-or-flight response to stress.

What we need to worry about is chronic stress.  Today, I’m focusing how stress effects our appetite and cravings.  We could spend days talking about all of the bad effects of stress on our bodies, so today we will stick with appetite. 

When we are under chronic stress, our brains are in a constant state of fight-or-flight in an effort to protect us from what has caused the stress.  Long term stress triggers our brains to constantly release a hormone called cortisol (the stress hormone).  This hormone will increase our appetite and signals the body to store food and glucose.  This leads to the body storing fat and slowing down our metabolism.  Chronic stress, either physical or emotional, causes this hormone to remain increased.

 And when this hormone is combined with high insulin levels from eating, sugar cravings increase, as well as cravings for high fat and processed foods.  

And the term comfort foods is true.  Studies are showing that when we eat junk foods our brain is impacted.  And these types of foods actually effect parts of the brain.  Comfort foods can temporarily help to decrease stress and “comfort” us only short term. 

Chronic stress can be caused by many different types of triggers.  Physical injuries or pain will cause our brains to remain in the fight mode to protect.  Emotional stress is a common cause of long term, chronic stress.  We are all under pressures at work and home that can lead to worry and anxiety.  Lack of sleep will also keep our bodies in a state of chronic stress.

I will post later this week with tips to help relieve stress that we can each incorporate into our lives.