Is stress changing what’s on your plate?

We often think of nutrition and stress management as two different goals. However, they are deeply interconnected. High stress levels trigger cortisol, a hormone that drives cravings for "highly palatable" foods, usually those high in sugar and fat. Conversely, a diet high in processed foods can actually spike your physiological stress response.

How they work together:

The Blood Sugar Rollercoaster: Refined sugars cause energy crashes that leave you feeling anxious and irritable.

Gut-Brain Connection: 95% of your serotonin (the "feel-good" hormone) is produced and stored in your gut. What you eat literally dictates your mood.

Try this

This week, try the "Pause Before the Plate" technique. Before your largest meal, take three deep diaphragmatic breaths. This shifts your body from "Fight or Flight" to "Rest and Digest," improving both your food choices and your nutrient absorption.

There are tools available to help

Downloading a free guided meditation app or a breathing exercise before eating before meals can help to shift into "rest and digest." There are a number of evidence-based mindfulness apps that focus on stress and awareness and can help you recognize hunger vs. stress cues.