Prolonged nervous tension can increase feelings of hunger and provoke cravings for calorie-dense and unhealthy food. This influence of stress is related to changes in hormone function, explained therapist U. Makhova.
According to the specialist, the body's reaction to stressful situations can vary greatly. Some people experience little desire to eat during periods of distress, while others begin to snack more often or seek food as a way to cope with anxiety.
The medical professional explained that much depends on the type of stress response. Short-term intense stress is usually accompanied by an increase in catecholamine levels — against this background, appetite decreases. A different picture is observed under prolonged emotional pressure. In such conditions, cortisol levels rise, which can increase feelings of hunger.
The craving for unhealthy food, according to the doctor, is related not only to physiological processes. Significant roles are played by individual habits and behavioral patterns that are formed in childhood. Makhova noted that the tendency to "eat away" feelings often appears in people who were rewarded with sweets or comforted with them during difficult moments in their early years.
The specialist also mentioned that it is possible to get rid of such a habit. First and foremost, she advises developing mindfulness and learning to distinguish true physical hunger from emotional desires to eat.
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