Stress And Belly Fat

One major culprit to belly fat is: stress. You really need stress management. In another article, discussed the role of stress in creating an appetite for high-calorie foods. In this one, dig even deeper to learn what stress actually is, what it does to both your body and mind, and most importantly, how it impacts your belly fat indirectly. This article discusses stress and belly fat directly!

Belly fat and stress go hand in hand because stress can spike cortisol levels, a stress hormone. Cortisol spikes when we are stressed, upset, or are anxious. How does all of this fat to get into our belly? Stress and visceral fat are tied together directly through cortisol levels and how they impact your overall health. Let's take a look at each in turn.

Stress and cortisol are both tied to increases in the amounts of a hormone called CRMP, (related proteins, matrix metalloprotein), from the brain. This hormone has a direct relationship with many aspects of our health, including mood, appetite, metabolism, fat storage, and more. When we are stressed, we are typically more sensitive to the effects of cortisol. This sensitivity may lead to a state of hypoglycemia, weakness, and high blood pressure. As a direct result, we need to control cortisol levels in order to avoid the health consequences.

Chronic stress may also lead to insomnia. People who are consistently exposed to significant stress may experience difficulty sleeping, and this inability to sleep may lead to increased cortisol levels that contribute to a poor diet and decreased energy levels. As a direct result, sleep is more difficult to obtain and we may eat more during the day to compensate for poor sleep. The end result: fatigue and stress. These things may lead to other health complications. If you are experiencing poor sleep and stress, it is very likely you are also experiencing a poor diet as a result.

The stress hormone HGH (human growth hormone) helps support healthy weight maintenance, but when stressed, your body releases higher levels of this hormone. In a recent study, mice were injected with high doses of stress hormone; after one month, their insulin levels and sensitivity to glucose were similar to normal mice. However, the mice did not gain any weight. This same study was conducted on humans, and the results were identical. This means stress actually increases the amount of insulin required to control glucose.

The second stress hormone cortisol stimulates, (also known as human growth hormone), is what causes us to crave sweet or salty snacks. When our cortisol levels are high, we consume more, even if we are not hungry. High amounts of cortisol in the bloodstream cause the liver to manufacture excessive amounts of glycogen, a starch that provides energy for our cells. Our body eventually stores glycogen in the form of fat cells.

The result of this cycle is that chronic stress makes us drink excessively to try to control our levels of cortisol. As we drink, our blood sugar levels rise, causing our brain to think we are full even when we are not. This can lead to binging, or frequent urination, which is another problem for our digestive system. This is why it is so important to get plenty of quality sleep. The right amount of sleep will buffer and balance our cortisol levels out.

Chronic stress also leads to the secretion of fatty acids from the liver. This process, called lipid accumulation, contributes to unhealthy fat levels. Our liver produces estrogen and testosterone that are essential for coping with stress. However, when we are constantly stressed, the levels of these hormones remain elevated, leading to increased cortisol production. In addition to the stress increasing cortisol production, the stress also alters the production of other hormones such as the thyroid and the pituitary gland.