Stress Eating - What It Is and How to Stop the Cycle
Posted by Rachel Baumgartel on Fit Fare.
I’m not certain of anyone who doesn’t have some sort of continuing stress in their lives. Whether it be work-related, family-related, or health-related, it is hard to believe that anyone does not experience some level of stress in their daily lives.
With economic times as they are, ever-increasing reports of layoffs ensue. Those sort of circumstances can cause stress in those for the workers left behind. Every day, you hear of people lost in accidents well before their time is due, which can cause stress for their families.
Recently both of these circumstances happened upon my household. I felt the only way I could cope is to eat whatever came to mind, which often was food beyond my prescribed restricted carbohydrate diet. Add to that reduced sleep and reduced exercise, and I was quickly a mess.
It led me to think about whether eating intuitively was the right way to eat under the circumstances. From a personal point of view, I believe that some intuitive eating for a period up to 72 hours can be the best way to cope with acute stress. But the experience also led me to think about what I could do to break the pattern of unhealthy eating, after recognizing I had let things go too far.
Among the suggestions from the Mayo Clinic’s advice on breaking the pattern of emotional eating. Any of these ideas can be useful for someone going through acute stress, but particularly for those of us who have chronic conditions which can be affected by food intake patterns.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both substances can disrupt sleep. The quality and quantity of sleep you get during acute stress can make a huge difference in resolving the issues at hand.
- While sleep quality is imperative, exercise is important during hard times. It can help with moods as well as blood sugar control for those of us with diabetes.
- Consider whether you are truly hungry or whether your emotions are triggering you to eat something unhealthy. Taking a few moments to recognize your hunger will ensure whether you are eating under pressure or you are eating because you really want to eat.
- Avoid foods high in carbohydrates, fats, or sodium. Any of these can contribute to situations where stress levels can increase. Even if you do allow yourself some extras as far as carbohydrates, fats, and sodium go, recognize that all “good things” must come to an end and you need to follow the diet prescribed by your physician or dietitian.
