How to Stop Stress Eating

I still struggle with eating when I’m stressed. One part of my healing journey was expressing my emotions without food. After I figured that out, I continued to eat when I was stressed. I felt like eating was the easiest way to relieve stress. It’s easier than going to the gym; it works better than taking a few deep breaths. Stress eating was the easy way out.

When the body is stressed, it releases the hormone cortisol. When stress is prolonged, cortisol increases appetite. Stress and cortisol also affect our food preferences. Cortisol triggers cravings of sugar and fat — the comfort…