Weight, Stress, and Inflammation- Oh My!
Article

Weight, Stress, and Inflammation- Oh My!

Published on Thursday, January 06, 2022
by
Allison Koch

Health & Wellness

Stress management is the best resolution you can make.

Moving into the New Year, many people often make resolutions to get their weight in check, when in reality if people do not get their stress in check, weight management will be terribly difficult to achieve. Good nutrition can help improve your overall mood, increase energy, memory, and help with sleep, but if you are stressed out, that is associated with negative eating behaviors.

What exactly is stress? Stress is the response from our brain to any demand. This can be good stress, which is called eustress- and bad stress, which is called distress. The intensity of stress depends on each person and how they see it and can range from mild to severe. Examples of eustress (good stress) can be planning a wedding or vacation or having a baby. Exciting stuff, but still stressful. Examples of distress are getting sick, losing your home or pet- you get it. 

The short-term response to stress involves our fight or flight response. I always use the example of a bear coming at you and you are given the option to do one of two things- fight or run. In either case, your body is going to prepare you for the response by increasing your pulse and breathing rate, an increased immune response, and tensing your muscles in preparation to get yourself out of harm's way.

However, if you are in a constant state of chronic stress, those same chemicals that help with fight or flight response can lead to digestive and reproductive problems, as well as decreased immunity. In fact, people who are exposed to chronic stress are more likely to experience digestive disorders, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, viral infections, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Not sure if you are stressed out? Here are some signs:

  • Pounding heart/feeling like your heart is racing
  • Irritability
  • Jaw clenching; Teeth grinding
  • Fatigue; Exhaustion
  • Headaches
  • Muscle tension; Neck/Lower-back pain
  • Trouble sleeping; Insomnia
  • Difficulty having sex
  • Depression; Anxiety; Panic Attacks
  • Digestive problems
  • Weight gain or loss
Sometimes people who are undergoing stress use unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage their stress, such as excessive alcohol consumption, compulsive shopping, smoking or drug use, or gambling. No one but you can know the amount of stress that you are truly under, but talking helps and if you are feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to your medical provider. 
If you, or someone you know, is in a crisis situation- the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK), which you can also use their chat feature at that number.

There is no way for us to know when stress will enter or exit our lives, but what we can do is try to control how we react to it. If we are able to take some time and reevaluate the stressors in our lives and make more time to relax and eliminate unwanted stressors, we can increase our overall health and immunity. 

It’s always good to have some gut-friendly choices around the house:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Garlic Infused | Low FODMAP Certified

Organic Shirataki Konjac Pasta Variety 8 Pack



Comments

Join The Conversation...

Related Content

11/23/22
Do I Need A Multivitamin? Do I Need A Multivitamin?

Do I Need A Multivitamin?

Health & Wellness

Caitlin Riley

RDN, LDN

10/18/22
Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple

Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple

Health & Wellness

Deanna Salles-Freeman

Life & Health Coach

08/30/22
Exercise for Stress Management & Improved Digestion Exercise for Stress Management & Improved Digestion

Exercise for Stress Management & Improved Digestion

Health & Wellness

Alexander Koch

PhD, CSCS

Latest Articles

Today
Fall Fortify: Top Nutrition Tips to Boost Your Immune System This Season Fall Fortify: Top Nutrition Tips to Boost Your Immune System This Season

Fall Fortify: Top Nutrition Tips to Boost Your Immune System This Season

Nutrition
Wellness

Haley McGaha

RDN, LD

10/09/24
Beating Reflux Bite By Bite: Homemade Snack Swaps Beating Reflux Bite By Bite: Homemade Snack Swaps

Beating Reflux Bite By Bite: Homemade Snack Swaps

Acid Reflux
GERD

Kitty Broihier

MS, RD, LD

10/08/24
Understanding FODMAPs Series: Part 1 - Oligosaccharides and Their Impact on IBS Understanding FODMAPs Series: Part 1 - Oligosaccharides and Their Impact on IBS

Understanding FODMAPs Series: Part 1 - Oligosaccharides and Their Impact on IBS

Low-FODMAP
IBS

Caitie G

MS, RDN, CNSC, LD

10/07/24
Beyond the Meds: Exploring Complementary Therapies for GERD Relief Beyond the Meds: Exploring Complementary Therapies for GERD Relief

Beyond the Meds: Exploring Complementary Therapies for GERD Relief

Acid Reflux
GERD

Keydella Fuller

MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Explore More