Stress is a natural psychological response to a threat. It's the body's natural response to danger , the time when the body decides on "Flight or Fight". When you feel under threat, the adrenal glands pump out the hormone Cortisol and this chemical is released into the blood stream, it alerts the body that it's going to need an energy boost, it quickens the heart rate, constricts the blood vessels to speed up the blood circulation and quickens breathing, all very necessary when you are going to require swift action.
Hopefully we won't find ourselves in real danger and if we did we wouldn't have much time or inclination to think about reaching for a bar of chocolate or some other goody, but there are other things in life that cause us stress and our adrenal glands still respond by pushing out cortisol that will produce the same responses in our bodies as at the time of real threat.
As I said earlier, stress is a natural reaction to a challenge and ideally we would look for solutions to that challenge and cope. There may be times when we feel overwhelmed and can't or don't look for a solution and it is at these times that some may turn to "comfort food" as a form of self-medication. These foods generally have little or no nutritional value and are full of sugar and fat, just calorie bombs. They do make us "feel" better, reduce the feelings of anxiety and panic - this could have something to do with the body's preparation for action and the drive to consume a fast energy bundle of calories, but with chronic stress there is a danger that you will continuously turn to these foods for comfort and that you will develop an eating habit and gain weight in the process.
Research has shown that there is a connection between stress and higher levels of visceral fat (fat around abdominal organs), that people with more visceral fat actually produced more cortisol, prompting more feelings of anxiety, a vicious cycle. Cortisol also instructs enzymes to store fat, in preparation for the challenge and this fat will be stored mainly in the abdominal region, increasing your risk of ;
- Obesity
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Cardiovascular disease
All of these factors can be a serious risk to your health.
Stress Reduction Tips
- Face your problems - look for solutions and ask for help if you need it.
- Exercise - reduces stress, burns stored fat. Do something you enjoy and if you haven't found that yet, keep searching! Commit to trying something that you like for 5 sessions, attend regularly and it will become a healthy, enjoyable habit. Don't make excuses, make changes.
- Sleep - aim for 8 hours a night of unbroken sleep. Fatigue increases cortisol levels.
- Enjoy life - listen to your favorite music, socialise, join groups, allow yourself some time away from stress.
- Keep a journal - you may be able to identify the stressors in your life and plan a solution.
- Laughter - reduces cortisol, improves alertness, keeps you calm and relaxed.
Live, laugh, eat well and move - find your comfort from those you love and those that love you and don't forget to love yourself!!
CLUB MOTIVITA CARES
