Can Stress Make You Lose Weight?
Stress is a feeling that everyone encounters occasionally, and it's not enjoyable. Stress can cause us to feel very negative and occasionally even have health problems. Even when we eat as usual, some of us experience such high levels of stress that we lose weight. This article investigates the relationship between stress and weight loss.
What Is Stress?
Stress is a response to events that affect us on a physical and mental level. Stress can cause a range of emotional and physical reactions in us, including shaking, changes in body temperature, and sudden emotional swings like crying or laughing uncontrollably. Stress affects our mood, our daily lives, and in certain cases, it can even cause depression.
What Is the "Fight-or-Flight" Response?
Our bodies evolved the "fight-or-flight" response as a response to stressful circumstances early in our evolutionary history. Our ancestors relied on this sympathetic nervous system-triggered response to either fight off or escape a physical threat, such as a wild animal, in order to save their lives.
In the modern world, persistent psychological stressors pose a greater threat than physical ones. The "fight-or-flight" response is still present in our bodies, though, and it triggers a series of hormonal events, with cortisol being a major player. Although this response is no longer as important to our survival, it still affects how our bodies respond to stress.
A Brief Overview of Cortisol
Often called the "stress hormone," cortisol is a class of steroid hormone. The adrenal glands, which are found above your kidneys, are the ones that produce it.
Cortisol serves some beneficial roles in our bodies:
1. It works by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, which aids in waking up in the morning.
2. It increases the body's ability to produce glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, giving the "fight or flight" response's physical components energy.
3. It has anti-inflammatory properties.
However, cortisol also has some less desirable effects:
1. It reduces the formation of bone.
2. It hampers the synthesis of collagen and proteins.
3. It weakens the immune system.
4. It can lead to sleep problems.
5. Over time, it may contribute to heart-related issues.
How Stress Causes Weight Loss
Our bodies go into a state of stress where they believe we need energy to perform fast physical actions, such as running away from a threat. Proteins are broken down by our bodies to provide this energy. Compared to using fat as a fuel source, our bodies can use muscle tissue much more quickly. The stress hormone cortisol contributes to this process by encouraging the initial step, which is the preservation of fat and the breakdown of muscle tissue.
The second stage entails a reduction in bone formation and protein synthesis. The number on the scale may change as a result of having weaker bones and less muscle mass.
Ultimately, what appears to be weight loss is more often than not the result of decreased bone density and muscle mass than it is of decreased fat.
Differences Between Physical and Mental Stress
When there was no longer a physical threat to us, our bodies could promptly return levels of the stress hormone cortisol to normal. This was advantageous as it did not negatively impact our well-being.
These days, mental and emotional difficulties related to relationships, work, education, family, and social issues are frequently the main causes of stress. These are continuous and strong, resulting in elevated cortisol levels all the time.
Our bodies are designed to withstand brief spikes in cortisol levels in reaction to direct danger. On the other hand, prolonged elevated cortisol levels brought on by chronic stress can result in a number of health issues.
The Impact of Poor Sleep on Our Health
Nowadays, a common cause of continuous stress is not getting enough or high-quality sleep. The stress hormone cortisol remains elevated when you don't get enough sleep, and the tricky thing is that it doesn't go down right away. Even if you get enough sleep and learn to manage your stress, it can take several days.
Good sleep habits are essential to getting a better night's sleep and lowering your stress levels. Don't eat late at night, avoid using screens at least an hour before bed, and go to bed early. By taking these actions, you can reduce stress and get better sleep.
how to lower your stress levels?
Here are some things you can do to lower your stress levels:
1. Get 6-8 hours of sleep each day.
2. Engage in physical activities like sports.
3. Try yin yoga, a gentle form of yoga.
4. Practice mindfulness to stay present.
5. Do breathing exercises to calm your mind.
6. Take a bath with sea salt for relaxation.
7. Use lavender oil on your pillow or in a humidifier.
8. Go for a walk before bedtime.
9. Consider taking 200 mg of magnesium in the evening.
10. When you're very stressed, angry, or anxious, count slowly to ten.
11. Avoid screens at least an hour before going to bed.
Stress Makes You Lose Weight, But.
Stress can indeed make you shed pounds, even if you eat whatever you like. However, it's not a healthy weight loss. The weight loss primarily comes from losing muscle and bone, which can lead to future health problems. That's why it's crucial to manage stress as a regular part of our daily life.