Now, in our offices and homes, we start meeting people who are admitting that they eat more when under stress. They feel that this will give them relief from stress. But its disadvantages are many and its advantages are negligible.
Till a few years ago, we only knew and believed that people are unable to eat properly under stress. But in the last decade, the number of people who were just the opposite increased. It cannot be said that the number increased, but it can be said that such people also got a term – Stress Eating. The simple meaning is to eat more under stress.
When the term was introduced, people started sharing their problems and then its disadvantages came to light. Now, in our offices and homes, we start meeting people who are admitting that they eat more when under stress. They feel that this will give them relief from stress. But its disadvantages are many and its advantages are negligible. Today we will talk about this.
Why do people eat more when stressed? (Why people eat more in stress)
Harvard Brain Science Initiative a report According to this, due to stress there is a deficiency of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Science also knows it by the name of feel good chemical. People who suffer from lack of dopamine in the brain under stress, start looking for ‘feel good’ areas in food.
There is another reason also. When we are stressed, the level of stress hormone called cortisol increases in the body. Firstly, this hormone increases appetite and secondly, as it increases, people start feeling like eating spicy food. These are the reasons why some people resort to stress eating when under stress.
Read also
Harmful Effects of Stress Eating
1. Weight Gain
The reason for eating should always be physical need and not emotional. When we move away from physical needs and start eating on an emotional basis, cholesterol also starts increasing in the body because calories start increasing in the body. Due to which weight gain is common. Because of this you may also be at risk of high blood pressure, heart diseases and diabetes.
2.Problems of Digestion
During times of stress, levels of stress hormones such as cortisol increase. All these hormones slow down the process of digestion. Then at such times, when we eat food, we do not check whether it is healthy or not. When fried food goes inside the stomach, it further increases the level of acid in the stomach. Due to this, problems like constipation may occur.
Often during times of stress, people eat food quickly and without chewing, due to this they also have digestive problems. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are also a cause of these problems. We should avoid these also.
3.Risk of chronic diseases (Stress Eating Causes Chronic Diseases)
If you have been doing stress eating for a long time then you need to be afraid because it can lead to the risk of many diseases. Under stress, people often eat too much sweet, fried food without thinking about calories, which increases the risk of diabetes. This happens because unhealthy foods often increase the level of insulin in the body.
Apart from this, if too much salt enters the body, it becomes the cause of diseases like high blood pressure. Then heart related diseases can also occur.
These tips will help you avoid overeating under stress (How to reduce Stress Eating)
1. Meditation, yoga and exercise are the best options to reduce stress. With this you can avoid stress eating. But you have to do this regularly.
2.Eat food that is rich in nutrition and has adequate amounts of minerals. When there is plenty of energy in the body, the desire to eat again and again will be less.
3. If you are unable to miss food due to stress, then make a timetable for eating. Eat little by little so that the habit of eating under stress does not increase the cholesterol level in your body. Reduce the habit of taking frequent snacks.
4. Good sleep is the cure for this problem. A good sleep of 7-8 hours keeps the cortisol level under control. Because of this one feels less hungry.
5. Eating healthy is also an option in such times. If you are unable to stop eating under stress, then keep healthy options ready instead of fast food or spicy food. This will not harm your body.
6. Manage yourself. If you feel like eating under stress, try to control it, thinking that it is just an emotional need, the body has no need for it. Sometimes this may be difficult but by doing it repeatedly you can learn to control yourself.
When to talk to a Doctor in stress eating
1. If your weight is increasing due to continuous overeating and you feel at risk of obesity, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
2. If you suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes and are still unable to stop stress eating, then you should consult a doctor.
3. If you feel stressed again and again and you look for its solution in eating again and again. That means, if you are not able to control yourself then you need to consult a doctor.
4. If you feel that due to stress eating you are repeatedly having digestive problems or constipation, then you should contact your doctor.
while going
In today’s era, stress eating is a very common problem and its treatment is also possible. All you need is to find a solution to your problem at the right time. If the efforts made at home are not helping you, then you need to immediately consult a doctor. This seemingly small problem can give rise to major diseases, so do not delay its treatment at all.
Also read – Stress can slow down your weight loss journey, know here how to overcome it