The life of a modern person is one continuous stress. Many people tend to overeat due to stress. This is especially dangerous if a person is in a state of chronic stress. Trying to calm your nerves, there is a risk of switching to a diet consisting exclusively of sweets and fatty foods. At the same time, writes ETNT with reference to Kelly Middleton, M.D., there are foods that can only worsen your condition due to a sharp jump in cortisol levels combined with an increase in insulin.
Croissants and muffins. According to Middleton, these treats are high in sugar, fat and refined carbohydrates, which only exacerbate the stress caused by the cortisol surge. In addition, the same food provokes the release of insulin. After such a snack, you will not only not calm down, but also want to eat more sweets.
Coffee. Sometimes this drink can affect your nervous system in a bad way. It is known that the level of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body jumps between 6 and 10 am to help wake up. Caffeine also triggers the release of cortisol. Therefore, a cup of coffee in the morning, and at any other time of the day, can dramatically increase the level of stress hormones and cause a feeling of anxiety. And also push you to overeat sweets.
Alcohol. One of the most popular and, alas, the most harmful ways to deal with high levels of stress is alcohol. In addition to the fact that alcohol is in principle very harmful, it can also provoke additional releases of cortisol, which certainly will not help you calm down. Alcohol also impairs sleep, which makes us more nervous and gain weight. Finally, alcoholic beverages are quite high in calories.
Fast food. Hamburgers, pizza, french fries – all this is very tasty. However, these foods are high in salt, fat, and calories. As a result, you will gain weight, and stress hormones will jump.
Cookies and chips. Ultra-processed foods such as cookies, nachos, potato chips, and salted pretzels are not only high-calorie snack options that make it easy to add extra pounds without noticing, but also foods that can increase anxiety and psychological stress.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
