Is Stress Making You Fat?

"I am soooooooo stressed!"

This is one of the most common comments we hear in the clinic, and it goes a long way to helping explain one of the key factors that hinders fat loss and increases muscle loss in many people.  This edition of your Overcoming Weight Loss Resistance Newsletter will delve into the dark world of stress and show you how you can balance the effects stress has on your life and your body.

Stress can have a negative impact on your body in many ways - just look at these statistics:

• 70-80% of all medical visits are related to stress
• Stress contributes to 50% of all illnesses in the US
• The cost of job stress in the US is estimated at over 200 billion dollars annually, including the cost of absenteeism, lost productivity and insurance claims

How do you know if stress is affecting you? Just answer these questions:

• Do you gain weight around your midsection?
• Do you need caffeine or sugar to keep you going?
• Do you need alcohol to relax?
• Do you "need" endurance aerobic exercise?
• Do you have trouble turning off at night?

If you answered 'yes' to one or more of these questions, stress is most likely one of your areas of weight loss resistance (WLR). Other symptoms that may indicate the stress is adversely affecting your health include:

 

So how does stress affect your body composition?

• Stress raises cortisol, the catabolic (breakdown) hormone.
• Over time, if this hormone stays high, it breaks down muscle, causing sugar to be dumped into the bloodstream which can increase insulin resistance (Note: insulin resistance is another area of WLR and you will learn more about  insulin resistance in an upcoming OWLR newsletter)
• Chronic stress also lowers serotonin (our 'feel-good' neurotransmitter) and makes you hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) -both of which cause you to crave sugar and sweets.
• In addition, chronic stress lowers the anti-aging, libido stimulating, fat burning hormone DHEA. This directly affects your body's ability to build muscle, and muscle is what your body needs to 'burn' calories and lose body fat.

• Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have numerous negative effects, such as:
• Impaired cognitive performance, including decreased memory and 'brain-fog'
• Suppressed thyroid function
• Blood sugar imbalances
• Decreased bone density
• Decrease in muscle tissue
• Higher blood pressure
• Lowered immunity and increased inflammatory responses in the body
• Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased abdominal fat are heart attacks, strokes, atherosclerosis, higher levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!

• To keep cortisol levels healthy and under control, your body's relaxation response should be activated throughout the day. You can learn to relax your body with various stress management techniques, and you can make lifestyle changes in order to keep your body from reacting to stress in the first place. If you're more sensitive to stress, it's especially important for you to learn stress management tips and maintain a low stress lifestyle.
• In addition, many people find supplemental support essential to help them combat stress's destructive effects. Use the following suggestions to help you determine which supplements would be best for you:

• If you are:	Use:	Suggested Dose:
  Stressed and tired - if you feel weak and fatigued due to stress and want enhanced stamina and energy.	Adreset - Adrenal support for fatigue and exhaustion.	Take 1-2 capsules twice daily.
  Stressed and wired - if you feel anxious, forgetful with occasional sleeplessness.	Serenagen - Calming and Relaxing Formula	Take 2 tablets 2-3 times daily.
  Stressed and Inflexible/Irritable - if you feel overstressed, agitated and physically tense	Tran-Q - Herbal Formula to Promote Inner Peace	Take 2 tablets 2-3 times daily.
  Stressed and Hot - if you have been under prolonged stress, feel 'burned out' and have stress related aches and muscle stiffness	Licorice Plus - Support for Prolonged Adrenal Fatigue	Take 2 tablets 1-2 times daily.

Natural Path Heath Center - 2940 Chapel Valley Road, Madison, WI 53711
608-274-7044 / 866-888-6721 - www.naturalpathhealthcenter.com