Last week we discussed how stress can affect our hormone levels, specifically the hormone cortisol. If stress is not managed in a healthy way, it can increase your blood pressure and insulin production as well as disrupt proper hormone levels in the body. Cortisol is produced in the body when in a “fight or flight” mode also referred to as “survival mode”. When experiencing excessive amounts of stress, the body continues to produce too much cortisol. When this hormone remains elevated and the body remains in “survival mode”, excessive weight is held onto and metabolism slows. As a result, fat storage in the body increases and weight loss is prevented.

 

A healthy relationship with stress helps us feel better, manage our weight and allows us to be in charge of our emotional performance. Take time today to identify your stress outlet. How do you manage your daily stress? Achieving a balance between the foods you consume, exercise you expend and the stress you allow in your life is key. If you cannot identify an outlet, consider hobbies that you enjoy participating in…reading, painting, walking, cycling and incorporate them into your daily lifestyle.