Why the Body Demands a Snack When Stressed?

Do you stress eat? This is why you snack when stressed and how to stop.

Timestamps

0:00 Stress eating

1:03 Why you snack when stressed

1:38 Causes of high cortisol

2:03 Stress and will power

2:20 How to stop stress eating

5:40 Bulletproof your immune system *free course!

Today we're going to talk about why some people snack when stressed. The hormone that's triggered by stress is cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that has a function of regulating blood sugar to a certain degree.

If a person has low blood sugar, cortisol is released and helps the body turn protein, fat, or ketones into sugar. This is called gluconeogenesis. The body is making sugar out of non-carbohydrate sources.

Stress raises cortisol. Cortisol releases sugar, and there is a spike in blood sugar. Insulin kicks in and pushes the blood sugar down, causing low blood sugar. Now, the person will get hungry, crave carbs, and snack. When they snack, they'll raise the blood sugar, and the whole cycle will start over.

Two things that can trigger cortisol:

1. Stress

2. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Not only can stress cause you to crave sugar, but it can also lower willpower.

A few tips to overcome the habit of snacking when stressed:

1. Never ask yourself what you're in the mood to eat

2. Ignore the body when it demands refined carbs and sugar

3. Stick to consuming low carb foods

4. Take vitamin B1 (nutritional yeast) 5. Take MCT oil or tallow capsules