Is Stress Packing on the Pounds?

Financial worries. Relationship trouble. Even an impending deadline at work. While they may seem commonplace in today’s fast-paced world, these everyday emotional hurdles can cause a lack of energy, fatigue and even depression, all of which can seriously get in the way of your weight loss efforts.

The reason has to do with the impact of stress on your adrenal glands—small endocrine glands located on top of your kidneys.

The primary function of the adrenal glands is to manage the body’s response to stress by producing certain hormones to protect the body. When faced with a stressful situation, your brain kicks into high gear, stimulating the release of a hormone called CRH (corticotrophin-releasing hormone), which then triggers the release of another hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone). ACTH is then carried by the blood to the adrenal glands, where it sets off a series of important events.

First, the adrenal glands will release the hormones epinephrine (or adrenaline) and norepinephrine, which accelerate the heart rate and increase the flow of blood to the muscles, lungs and brain. Almost immediately your concentration becomes more focused, your reaction time increases, and you experience a surge of strength and agility. This is often referred to as the body’s “fight or flight” response: a primal instinct to either stay and fight or flee a hazardous situation.

The Role of Cortisol
Following the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine, your adrenal glands secrete a third hormone called cortisol. Cortisol works to calm the body down so that it can recover from the stressful event, but it also elevates blood sugar levels. Ideally, this chain reaction of hormonal signals will subside once the event is over, but problems can occur when the anxiety is prolonged. When this happens, stress hormones continue to wash through the body in fairly high levels, constantly bombarding the blood and tissues.

Over time, this chronic elevation of cortisol prevents the brain from telling the body that there is enough cortisol in the bloodstream. So rather than halting the production of CRH and subsequent release of ACTH, the brain continues to release increased amounts of the hormone, which puts a significant strain on the adrenal glands. As they work to maintain the high cortisol levels, they become unable to produce a natural steroid called DHEA, which plays an important role in keeping our hormones in check. The resulting lack of DHEA can lead to numerous physical and mental issues, including fatigue, depression, joint and muscle pain, and digestive difficulties.

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Consistently high cortisol levels can also impede healthy digestion and food metabolism, eventually leading to insulin resistance, which can cause fat deposits to build up in the body. As chronic stress continues, the overworked adrenal glands become fatigued and stop producing cortisol, hence the term adrenal fatigue. Lacking a healthy amount of cortisol, the body is unable to perform important tasks like managing pain and inflammation, regulating blood sugar and blood pressure, and maintaining emotional stability. All of this can mean big trouble for people who are trying to lose weight, as constant stress on the adrenal glands and the resulting cortisol imbalance can lead to inactivity, depression, fatigue and weight gain.

A Natural Solution
Simple diet and lifestyle changes may help relieve stress and maintain healthy cortisol levels, making it easier to lose weight and achieve healthy weight management. Begin by following a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of wholesome, high-fiber foods that can keep your hormones in check and reduce the emotional eating that often accompanies stressful situations. If possible, try to reduce your caffeine intake, as its stimulant properties can intensify stress levels.

A nutritional supplement formulated to help regulate cortisol and promote healthy adrenal function may also prove beneficial when added to your daily diet. If possible, try to choose an adrenal support formula that contains natural ingredients such as Vitamin B5, ashwagandha root, banaba extract and the amino acid L-theanine, all of which have been shown to support healthy adrenal function.

Exercise and deep breathing are also important factors to consider when you are trying to alleviate stress. Clinical studies have proven that a daily dose of moderate exercise (at least 30 minutes per day) has profound anti-stress effects on the body, helping to boost your energy and clear your mind. Likewise, deep breathing is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce stress.

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