Stress Can Make You Hungry

In recent research, scientists have been examining the relationship between certain hormones your body produces under stress and how big your appetite is. What they've found gives added support to the theory that stress can cause you to gain weight.

When you feel depressed or anxious, your body releases more of a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin helps to combat anxiety and depression, but it also helps to regulate your appetite. More ghrelin makes you feel like you need to eat. It follows that in many people stress can lead to overeating because it triggers production of this hormone that makes you hungry.

Researchers are considering ways of suppressing ghrelin that might help with weight loss. However, this is a risky strategy. If levels of ghrelin get too low, you could become depressed or suffer from higher levels of anxiety.

A better strategy is to learn to cope better with stress. Here are a few ideas.

Exercise is an excellent coping mechanism when it comes to stress. People who exercise help to regulate their hormone levels and their mood. Exercise works as well as prescription drugs when it comes to treating moderate depression. It's an all around good way to beat stress.

Meditation is another great option. You can rent guided meditations at your local video store. Or you can do you own meditation. Just sit quietly in a relaxed position. Choose a focal point such as your breathing and try to clear your mind of thoughts by focusing gently on that one thing. When a stray thought does enter your mind simply acknowledge it and then bring yourself back to your focal point.

Journaling is another option when it comes to coping with stress. Writing down the things that bother you can help you to put them into perspective and even find solutions. Sometimes by writing something down you give yourself permission not to worry about it constantly, and that's very helpful, too.

Finding healthy ways to deal with stress is important both to your quality of life and to your health.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell