Stop the weight gain!

When we are stressed out most of us seem to just want to eat. But the problem is we CRAVE the wrong things like chocolate, chips MMMMM. So when this time comes it is hard to stick to our "HEALTHY" eating plane. And before you know it the weight creeps on. Why is this so?

Cortisol plays a part:

There are literally hundreds of hormones involved in body fat metabolism, body weight and related behaviours like hunger and cravings. cortisol.

Cortisol is called the ‘stress hormone" and some researchers believe that cortisol levels are closely related to weight gain. Some studies have shown that stress and elevated cortisol tend to cause fat deposition in the abdominal area rather than in the hips. The problem is this has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Other studies have indicated that people who secrete higher levels of cortisol in response to stress also tend to eat more food, and food that is higher in carbohydrates than people who secrete less cortisol.

Reducing cortisol levels:

Like adrenalin, excess cortisol is secreted during times stress and these secretions differ between individuals. The supplement industry has picked up on these findings and promotes cortisol-lowering weight loss supplements. These supplements contain very scientific sounding ingredients like phosphatidylserine, mucuna Pruriens, 5 HTP and coleus forskohlii, all claimed to biologically improve your stress levels as mentioned in the Women's Weekly.

Something to remember:

Nervous tension can and does affect your daily life. So even though we all go through rough times, that there is always help at there. Be it your family, friends or even a councillor, so do not be afraid to ask!