STRESS - It Happens

There are a lot of questions – and conflicting answers – when it comes to stress.

Does it really cause weight gain?

Is it actually TOXIC to your body?

Could stress be causing your digestive issues?

And unfortunately, the correct answer is: It Depends.

Take the question of, Is Stress Really BAD for You? Well, yes and no. 

Constant, chronic stress can lead to all kinds of health issues. However, in order to push and get your attention that something needs to change/be done, a little bit of stress can be a good thing.

Or what about, Is Stress Making Me Gain or Lose Weight? Maybe. Again, it depends. 

It can cause you to LOSE weight by releasing extra glucose into your blood stream and you’re not going to feel as hungry. It can also disrupt your digestion in such a way that food feels like it’s just sitting in your stomach, it’s rushing straight through you, and because of these two possibilities food isn’t being adequately absorbed.

It can also take the form of weight gain by releasing extra cortisol, which INCREASES your appetite, particularly for extra carbs/sugars/comfort/highly caloric foods. If you’re using food to cope with stress, it’s more likely to lead to overeating, extra calories and weight gain.

So, how do you deal with stress?

Unfortunately, stress is never going to completely go away. 

Life is what it is, and you will face difficulties – illness, family issues, job or money problems, and other life situations. But there are a few things you have control over, like your actions, your effort, and your mindset. Those are things you can work on when stressors pop up in your life.

You can also work on adding self-care practices when stress becomes overwhelming. Anything from deep breathing and meditation to exercise, fresh air, or unplugging from devices have been shown to reduce stress levels.

Even though stress is unavoidable and can definitely have an impact on your health and wellness there are ways to help manage it, to learn from it, and to grow from it as well.