Do you crave something sweet or junk food after a very stressful or busy day? Don't panic, you are not alone. The list of people who are overeating is very long. In the language of psychology, this is called stress eating. Many people do overeating to reduce sadness and anxiety, but it can give them many diseases like obesity, indigestion, and weakening of metabolism.
Noida's Ruchi tells that she is not in a job and eats something or the other in her free time to reduce anxiety. He feels like eating sweets or some snacks. Some people listen to music, go for a walk or watch TV to reduce stress. But a study by Howard University of America suggests that women mostly choose to eat under stress. We also have a psychological relationship with food. Many people, especially women, eat more under stress, due to which they have to face problems later.
Causes of stress eating
It has become an emotional connection of stress with food, but it also has a biological connection. Due to prolonged stress in the mind, a hormone called cortisol starts to be released more rapidly inside the body, which further increases the appetite. This hormone is found more in obese women.
The biggest thing is that there is no control over eating during this time. No worries about what you are eating, whether it is healthy or not. You are simply obsessed with food and eat whatever you want at any time. Sometimes the stomach is full, but the mind is not. This is also a symptom of stress because one hunger is linked to your stomach and the other to your emotions, which are never satisfied. In such a situation, you keep eating to keep your mind happy and calm. In Finland, 5 thousand men and women were studied together, in which it was found that stress eating is more in women.
Know the solution
Before eating anything, think about why and what you are eating. Are you really hungry or are you just eating to heal your mind? Whether your body will get any benefit from what you are eating or not, or are you just eating like this? Whenever you eat during the day, write it in the diary. With this, you will know when and what you ate. Keep a food chart in the diary. Make a list of healthy and unhealthy food. If you go to the market, buy only healthy things, such as fruits and vegetables, dry fruits, natural foods, etc.
Apart from this, you can also choose many other options to reduce stress. You can do meditation, exercise, and yoga. By giving some time in the morning and evening, your stress will reduce and your mind will also stay away from food. Your digestion will be good and the balance of hormones will be maintained. If there is a lot of craving, then choose some such options of food, which are healthy. You can make some snacks at home, and eat low-calorie foods. Also, talk to your dietician. If needed, do consult your doctor, so that you can follow a correct routine.
The food system gets spoiled
According to Dr. Om Prakash, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Delhi-based Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, there are many medical reasons behind stress eating. Many times people do overeating under stress and sometimes under-eating. In either case, it is injurious to health. The mechanism of food depends on many hormones. There is a deep relationship between hunger and the glands of the body. When you take more stress, many hormones start getting affected, due to which your eating system gets completely messed up and you do not understand what you eat, more or less.
(PC: Freepik)
