Each week millions of Americans sit in front of their television set for another episode of the wildly popular American Idol program. And while most Americans can imagine how much stress the show’s contestants endure, they have no idea the effect stress is having on their own health. Registered Dietitian Jayson Hunter is on a mission to educate American Idol fans how stress in their own lives may be causing them to gain weight.
According to Hunter, “Millions of Americans have no idea how stress causes overeating and unhealthy food choices. It’s one of the major reasons we are so overweight as a nation.” The registered dietitian of over ten years added, “When people are under stress the hormone Cortisol is released. And Cortisol causes the body to crave foods high in sugar and fat. When people reach for a candy bar about 4:00pm each day, well, Cortisol is typically the reason why.”
The following tips from Jayson Hunter are specifically designed to help prevent the overeating stress can stimulate:
1) Become conscious of the times of day when stress occurs. Many people mindlessly reach for a candy bar or bag of chips without even thinking about the action. Becoming aware of stress patterns is the first step.
2) Have healthy snacks on hand. Choose a piece of fruit or low-fat cottage cheese instead of chocolate or salty snacks.
3) Take frequent breaks. Eliminate stress by going for a brief stop in your work day. Stretch muscles to relieve tension.
4) Avoid high stress situations at the end of the day. Schedule stressful tasks for the morning instead of late afternoon when the stress hormone Cortisol is most likely to be released into the bloodstream.
To discover healthy snack foods to eat when under stress readers can download a FREE report, “36 Rapid Fat Loss Foods”, at Hunter’s website: http://dress-size-reduction-diet.com/
Jayson Hunter, RD, CSCS is a registered dietitian and personal trainer with over ten years of experience. He specializes in helping people lose weight quickly and safely so they look great for any special event they want to look their best for. He is available for story ideas and interviews.
