Why You Eat When You’re Stressed

Do you hit the Chinese buffet extra hard after a hellish meeting? Or celebrate the end of a hectic week with a Four-Cheese Meat Lovers Supreme? If so, you’re not alone. Lots of people turn to unhealthy foods when they’re stressed, and the reason, it turns out, is a hunger-inducing hormone called ghrelin—the stuff that makes your stomach growl.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that levels of ghrelin spike during stress. When that happens, the hormone also messes your dopamine neurons, the region of the brain associated with rewards and pleasure. “This makes people seek food for a ‘feel good’ hit,” says Jeffrey Zigman, M.D., Ph.D., professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and coauthor of the study.

Unfortunately, you’ve got it twice as bad if you’re on a diet, since ghrelin also spikes when you suddenly cut calories. How to deal with it? Since there’s no practical way to measure levels of the hormone, you’ve got to manage your stress instead. For starters, turn off your phone and leave the stressful environment when you’re feeling overwhelmed—even if it’s just for a minute. You’ll return feeling less frazzled.

"Our bodies are designed to deal with stress intermittently—not 24 hours a day," says David Posen, M.D., the author of The Little Book of Stress Relief. "Removing the source of stress, even for a short time, allows your body to recover, restore, and relax." (Note: This is from this article: The 5-Minute Vacation.)

Just so long as you’re not relaxing in the cafeteria—right, doc?

For more advice on mellowing out, check out 19 Ways to Live a Stress-Free Life and Where Stress Hides.

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