Comfort Food Addiction and Emotional Stress

Studies have shown that food addiction manifests itself into uncontrollable craving for foods in response to stress. Whenever you're feeling lonely and having a hard time dealing with all your problems and challenges in life, the first thing you want to do is to put something inside your mouth and relax without really bothering about the possible effects it may have on your body. Comfort Food Addiction and Emotional Stress always seem to have a link between each other because studies have proven that foods is used to soothe heavy feeling that's been placed on your shoulders as mention above.

Foods, especially sugary ones will make our brain send some endorphins, and as a result it will make you feel better but it only works for a short period of time. We don't always eat food to satisfy our hunger, but unfortunately comfort foods doesn't fix emotional stress either. It usually makes you feel worse more than anything else after eating a whole gallon of ice cream and making your stomach bloat, thus only adding it to your burden; feeling guilty for overeating.

 Emotional eating is using food from time to time by filling your emotional needs than what your stomach really needs. There are many food that are usually used as comfort foods and this includes sugary ones, chips and fatty foods. If you experience eating food while the fridge door is open as your first impulse if you're feeling down or angry, nervous, upset and disappointed then you maybe experiencing from emotional eating; using food to comfort yourself. You may also notice that you become more irritable after shoving these junks down your throat.

Some people mistake emotional hunger as physical hunger. You have to know the difference between the two. 

Notice that emotional hunger often craves fatty foods and it leads you to mindless eating so before you know it, you've eaten a whole bag of potato chips. You'll keep wanting more and more, feeling that you can't just get enough. It often leads to guilt, shame or regret because realizations will hit you after you're done eating. Emotional hunger comes on suddenly and craves specific comfort foods.

Emotional stress always makes you feel hungry. In response to stress, your body releases cortisol. It functions to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis, to suppress the immune system and aid the metabolism of fat, carbohydrate and protein. As a result, your body often craves for salty, sweet and high-fat foods that are contributing factor for obesity and increase the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Ask yourself if you have shown any signs of Comfort Food Addiction and think of anything to do something about it. 

When you're stressed out, just take a quick jog a few blocks away because according to studies, there are some chemicals that our brain releases before and after taking up an exercise so it should be your first impulse instead of grabbing a can of soda and a bag of Doritos to shove down your throat thinking that it can make you feel better. While eating food can offer you a good feeling for a short period, think of its negative effects. 

A food addict can lose control of his life and can no longer define reality. Working out when you're not in the mood can enhance both your physical and mental health. Anyone can surpass emotional stress and comfort food addiction by just looking at the brighter side of life and having a healthy lifestyle that everyone should be living with.

 

 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9114182