are you stress?
Basically, in times of stress your body produces more of the cortisol hormone (stress hormone). In the old days, when life was truly phyically dangerous, chemicals like adrenaline (instant energy), as well as corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and cortisol, came in handy because they instantly rouse the body into running mode so that it could flee that saber-toothed tiger before the thought processes even got engaged. Although the powerful biochemicals may initially decrease the appetite, they eventually increase the desire for food and cortisol typically tends to increase cravings for fat and sugar. In addition, cortisol levels can remain high long after the stress has passed, increasing appetite and food intake.
Nowadays, our stress is usually not caused by savage beasts but by a deadline or by family and work responsibilities. The problem is, our bodies don’t know the difference between deadlines and dinosaurs, and so they produce the same chemicals that got us moving back during the old days. The trouble now is, today’s stressors don’t usually call for a physical response: A box of donuts or cookies lying around the office can take the place of running very nicely. If all of this sounds like doom and gloom, cheer up—it’s quite possible to vanquish these unfriendly stress hormones.
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