Overeating when Stressed? Try This!

Retno Yunita Sari, S.Gz

When experiencing stress, a person tends to consume large amounts of food. This condition is called stress eating or emotional eating. Not only does someone consume large amounts of food, but someone who is experiencing stress tends to consume sweet food with a high glycemic index level and high in fat. If this condition is not treated immediately, it can cause obesity and trigger various other health problems. Then, how to solve it?

Stress Eating

Stress eating or emotional eating is defined as excessive eating behavior due to stress or prolonged negative emotions. When experiencing stress, the hormone cortisol will be produced more and increase appetite. Increased cortisol levels during stress can also have other negative impacts on the body, including:

1. The tendency to want to eat foods high in calories and fat
2. Triggers to happen overweight and obesity
3. Accumulation of body fat
4. Disrupts sleep quality

If stress eating If not treated immediately, it can have serious health impacts such as diabetes, heart disease, and even stroke.

Do This to Overcome Stress Eating

There are several things you can do to reduce the habit of overeating due to stress.

1. Increase interaction with people closest to you.

Interaction with people closest to you can divert attention and thus prevent the negative impacts of stress, including the habit of overeating.

1. Mindfulness Meditation and Regular Sleep 

Mindfulness meditation can train focus, support a healthier stress response, and improve sleep quality. Adequate and quality sleep helps manage stress and regulate healthier food intake. 

1. Stay Active and Move

Active movement reduces stress hormone levels and increases the production of endorphin hormones which can provide a feeling of happiness. At least do light stretching or walk for 5 minutes to improve your mood during stress.

1. Consume Healthy Food and Snacks 

Consuming the right amount of healthy food and snacks can keep blood sugar levels stable and prevent overeating during stress. Choose types of food that contain enough carbohydrates, high protein, healthy fats, rich in vitamins and minerals, and low on the glycemic index. Apart from that, pay attention to the type of sugar consumed. Choosing a type of sugar with a low glycemic index, such as Lontar Sugar, is a way to enjoy a delicious sweet taste, but still be healthy.

YAVA believes that delicious AND healthy food can still be enjoyed at any time, including times of stress. Made from quality ingredients and containing Lontar sugar with a low glycemic index, YAVA products are a suitable choice when craving sweet foods and coping with overeating during stress.

Get YAVA products with various flavors available online and offline.

Sources and References:

1. Stress in America: Stress Greatly Impacts Adults’ Health and Behaviors, Particularly Unhealthy Eating.  
2. Interactions Between Sleep, Stress, and Metabolism
3. Stress Eating: What is It and How do You Stop It?
4. Emotional Eating in Healthy Individuals and Patients with an Eating Disorder
5. Mindfulness-based stress reduction as a stress management intervention for healthy individuals