Is Stress Causing Your Weight Gain?
 

The effects of stress are far reaching and impact many facets of our health. Believe it or
not, stress and weight gain go hand-in-hand! More stress in your life can mean weight gain,
especially in the mid-section, which is sometimes referred to as ‘belly fat.’

When your body senses stress, it produces more stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline),
which affect how you burn calories. For example, when you are under stressful conditions, your
body will burn more lean muscle and carbohydrates and less fat. The result is retention of body
fat, which is the opposite of what most people are trying to accomplish! Stress takes your body
out of the fat-burning mode!

Here are a few indicators that will tell you if you are burning the wrong fuel…

• Are you fatigued much of the time?

• Do you have cravings?

• Is it hard for you to concentrate and focus?

• Inability to lose weight?

• Digestive difficulties?

• Do you wake up at night & have a hard time going back to sleep?

• Having trouble building muscle tone?

• Difficulty with PMS/menopause?

• Reduced libido?

These symptoms also indicate that you may have another issue to be concerned about…adrenal
fatigue or exhaustion. This typically occurs when your adrenals are so overworked that they
ultimately get tired and now cannot produce enough cortisol and adrenaline. Inefficient adrenal
function has a cascading effect on other areas of our health.

• Thyroid Function – adrenal function and thyroid function are tied together.

• Digestion – the adrenals influence production of stomach acid. Excessive cortisol can
  also erode the lining of your digestive tract, resulting in inflammation, gas, bloating and
  indigestion.

• Hormones – estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA (“the anti-aging hormone”)
  levels are all regulated by the adrenals.

• Blood Sugar – the adrenal glands help keep blood sugar stable.

• Sleep – trouble going to sleep, or waking up during the night are signs of adrenal
  problems.

• Depression/Mood Swings – production of stress hormones causes a decrease in
  serotonin, which is a brain neurotransmitter that helps you to relax and remain calm.

• Heart Disease – stress hormones cause arteries to constrict, which increases blood
  pressure.

• Immune Function – the adrenal glands help activate the immune system.

As you can see, the over, or under-production of stress hormones can negatively affect your
overall health – not just your weight.

How to Balance & Restore Adrenal Function

• Relax, pray, meditate – SCHEDULE the time to do this daily.

• Get some sunlight – vitamin D is helpful for your mood and immune function.

• Drink lots of water – “the solution to pollution is dilution.”

• Lower the Glycemic Index of your foods – this will help stabilize your blood sugar.

• Exercise – does not have to be hard. In fact, lower intensity is best when you’re
  suffering from stress.

• Laugh Often – laughter actually lowers stress hormones.

• Sleep – we all need 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

• Digestive Support – use enzymes and probiotics to improve the health of your digestive
  system. This will help decrease inflammation.

• Supplementation – there are specific nutrients that support healthy adrenal
  function. These include; vitamin B, C, zinc, selenium, and various herbs… rhodiola,
  ashwagandha, cordyceps, and ginseng. These herbs are classified as adaptogens,
  meaning they help balance and stabilize various hormones.