We all know what stress is – we are faced with it each day. Whether we are dealing with financial difficulties, the poor health or loss of a loved one, relationship problems, shocking events, or the incessant demands of daily life, we are continually under pressure. Our bodies are hardwired to react to any stress as an imminent threat or hazard, and the natural response is to trigger what is known as the “fight-or-flight” mechanism.
Under regular circumstances, the relaxation response takes over after the perceived threat is gone and the body returns to its typical state. But for individuals who are faced with chronic stress – a frequent occurrence in our high-pressure world – the relaxation response does not happen frequently enough or last long enough, resulting in imbalances that can bring about permanent harm.
Medical researchers have discovered that one of the prime factors in stress-related illness is cortisol, the so called “stress hormone.”
* What is cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands (located above the kidneys). Cortisol helps to maintain the metabolism of sugar, plays a role in controlling the release of insulin, regulates blood pressure, and functions as part of the immune response.
Cortisol is in addition an essential part of the fight-or-flight response; it provides fast energy, increases memory function, strengthens the immune system, cuts the body’s sensitivity to pain, and helps to maintain homeostasis (the internal environment, including body temperature and blood pressure).
* How does cortisol cause weight increase?
While cortisol itself does not make you obese, high levels are known to result in the storage of fat in the abdominal area. Stomach fat (referred to in medical terms as central adiposity) and those lovely bulges we all know as “muffin tops” are proven to have a number of serious health consequences:
- Leptin Overproduction: Leptin is produced in adipose tissue (abdominal fat) in proportion to the amount of fat
available. This hormone helps to normalize energy intake and expenditure; in simple terms, it controls the
appetite, and high levels can result in food cravings – an issue which in the end leads to the production of
even more abdominal fat.
- Insulin Resistance: Central adiposity causes resistance to insulin, the hormone which is responsible for
signaling the cells to metabolize energy. Insulin resistance, or pre-diabetes, leads to a many health
problems which are known together by the ominous-sounding term “metabolic syndrome.” Not an illness
in itself, metabolic syndrome refers to a group of danger factors, including:
> excessive levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides;
> low levels of good (HDL) cholesterol;
> high blood pressure;
> extreme glucose levels in the blood.
All of these issues can sooner or later lead to more serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
* How can I tell if I have high levels of cortisol?
If you think that stress may be causative to your weight gain, an adrenal stress test can be administered to detect elevated cortisol levels.
* How can I counteract stress-related weight gain?
There are a lot of of steps you can take to avoid the accumulation of ab fat due to surplus stress. These contain some life changes that are required to lower your stress levels and support good health:
- Stick to a low-sugar diet to prevent the overproduction of insulin.
- Exercise – this lowers your stress levels, promotes weight loss, and enlarges your endorphins, the feel-good
hormones.
- Practice a stress management technique, such as yoga, to promote relaxation and increase your ability to
deal with stress.
- Take a cortisol-lowering supplement. *Important: do this ONLY after a saliva test has detected too much
cortisol in your system!
With good stress management and an overall healthy everyday life, you can prevent the effects of stress on your waistline, as well as on your general sense of well-being.
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