How Does Stress Contribute To Weight Gain?
The hormone cortisol is called the stress hormone for good reason. Cortisol is the hormone that is released by the adrenal gland in our bodies when we are faced with frightful situations. It gives us the “fight or flight” feeling. Almost every aspect of the human body is affected by the release of cortisol. It aids the body in regulating the amounts of its fats, carbohydrates and proteins and helps control blood pressure. Cortisols main function is to stimulate our appetite by releasing insulin into the blood and maintaining blood sugar levels. If there is to much cortisol in the body, due to a tremendous amount of continuing stressors the result could be significant weight gain or difficulty losing weight. There is also research that tells us that while acute stress dampens the appetite, chronic stress increases it. Chronic stress is that which continues day after day and steadily increases or never subsides. These types of stressors are not things that can stress you out at work and
