Is Stress Making You Fat?
A recent study by Kalms has found that 44% of us admit to over-eating when we are stressed. Another link between stress and weight gain is down to the adrenal glands. The basic task of these glands is to rush all your body’s resources into ‘fight or flight’ mode in response to feeling under attack or stressed. In this high alert mode, the production of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are stepped up. Adrenaline gives rise to those unpleasant symptoms of increased heart rate and raised blood pressure that you experience when you are anxious, while high levels of cortisol can lead to a number of health problems.
Stress can result in the inability to lose weight, particularly around the tummy area, poor skin quality, rapid ageing, digestive problems and lowered immunity.
Amanda Hamilton, GMTV’s expert nutritionist, has devised some top tips designed to counter the negative effects of stress. Here is her advice:
1. Ditch the chemicals
If you can’t pronounce the name of certain processed foods’ ingredients, they probably contain toxins that can lead to weight gain. If you do buy processed foods such as tinned tomatoes, buy organic.
2. Avoid eating when stressed
Make a cup of herbal tea instead. Liquorice tea is great for stalling your appetite.
3. Only eat when you’re hungry
If you’re tempted to reach for a sugary snack, drink a glass of water and then wait 10 minutes - chances are, you’re simply thirsty.
4. Digestion starts in your mouth
Chew food properly and eat slowly. And always sit down to eat, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
5. Be prepared
Ensure that you have the ingredients for quick nutritious meals such as stir fries and salads.
6. Eat and drink regularly
You must have breakfast, lunch and dinner each day and have two or three cleansing drinks daily (warm water and lemon). These will boost your digestion.
7. Stock up on snacks
Like nuts, seeds, dried fruit. This will stop you reaching for the biscuits.
8. Eat one treat desert a week
This will stop you binging.
9. Drink at least 4 large glasses of water each day
These can be herbal or green tea. Avoid caffeine. If you need a coffee fix, go for decaf. Or go for Miso soup.
10. Eat limitless vegetables
Pile up your plate with as many different varieties as possible.
Source: She Magazine June 2008
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