Stress and Belly
It’s called belly, tummy, love handles, rolls, chubby …. you name it. As the call fat around the abdomen does not like anyone. This type of fat accumulation affects many people, even thin or normal weight people.
Several recent medical studies help us understand why this happens and give us surprising solutions. A study by Yale University found that stress can cause a swollen abdomen to thin women.
Thin women who suffer from high levels of stress or suffer psychological problems are vulnerable to accumulating fat in the abdominal area. These women also have high levels of the hormone cortisol.
Stress Hormone: Cortisol
When we feel stress, our body reacts by secreting a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is a steroid and is called the stress hormone. Cortisol helps our body to produce energy to handle stress.
If our cortisol levels are high for several months or years this causes damage to our body. It affects the immune system, fertility and bone. New studies also show that high levels of cortisol cause memory loss and diabetes to certain types.
The Stress and Barriga
The hormone cortisol affects the accumulation of fat around vital organs. Everyone is exposed to stress, but some people react to secrete more cortisol than normal. Apel genes play an important role.
Lifestyle and age also determine the accumulation of abdominal fat. Activities such as smoking, alcohol and lack of exercise contributes to the accumulation of fat in the abdomen.
After menopause, the hormonal changes result in accumulation of fat in the abdomen. A healthy lifestyle including sleep well, exercise and relaxation can reduce cortisol levels. This applies to men, but overweight in men is almost always in the abdomen.
In women before menopause normally accumulates fat in the thighs and then in the abdomen. That stress may cause changes in places of accumulation of fat in women than in men.
Mind, Mouth and muscle
When you have high cortisol levels (chronic) feels like eating carbohydrates and fats. These extra calories are the belly. To reduce fat in the abdomen, and the recommend a system: Mind, Mouth and Muscle.
This means first relax, learn to maintain a positive attitude and take care of yourself. The second part is: exercise, keep moving. The physical activity increases the hormones that control our mood. So the exercise helps keep us in a good mood. That’s why exercise is recommended to combat depression. The hormones also help to combat stress and therefore the fat around the stomach in lean.
Daily exercise between 45-60 minutes can help neutralize the stress. And eating foods high in fiber and nutritious foods instead of fat and sugar.