Healthy Living - Stress can affect your body in various ways, including lowering your mood, increasing appetite, and making you crave sweet foods. But what exactly makes you want to eat sweets when stressed?
The Relationship Between Stress and the Desire to Eat Sweets
Various studies have explored the connection between stress and the craving for sweet foods. Here are some key findings:
1. Sugar Intake Lowers the Stress Hormone Cortisol
Stress triggers the release of cortisol from the hippocampus in the brain, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, breathing, and muscle function. While this response can help you stay alert during stressful situations, high levels of cortisol can lead to anxiety and depression.
The craving for sweets during stress is believed to be related to cortisol. Some studies have found that sugar consumption can reduce cortisol levels and hippocampus activity, improving the brain's response to stress. However, the direct relationship between sugar intake and stress requires further research, as many factors influence hippocampus activity.
2. Eating Sweets During Stress Provides Energy to the Brain
The brain requires energy to function, using about 20 percent of the body's total energy. During stress, the brain's energy needs increase by 12 percent. The brain's primary energy source is carbohydrates, with sugar (glucose) being the most readily available type.
A lack of carbohydrates, combined with stress and hunger, can impair brain functions such as metabolism, digestion, and cognitive abilities. This is why you may crave sweets during stress—your brain needs quick energy, and sweet foods are the simplest source of carbohydrates.
3. Sugar Stimulates Feelings of Happiness
Sugar intake stimulates the release of dopamine and activates the nucleus accumbens in the brain, leading to feelings of happiness similar to those produced by certain drugs. Additionally, sugar triggers the release of serotonin, which has a calming effect and helps reduce stress.
However, this effect is not replicated with artificial sweeteners, which may instead lead to increased consumption of sweet foods. The exact relationship between stress, natural sugars, and artificial sweeteners remains a topic of ongoing research.
While eating sweets during stress can have a positive effect for some, it’s important to avoid excessive consumption, as too much sugar can increase the risk of health problems. If you're craving something sweet, opt for healthier choices like fruit smoothies, fresh fruits, yogurt with whole grains, dark chocolate, or homemade baked goods.
