. 'This stress hormone can increase our cravings and tendency to reach for snacks.'
Lenherr says the reason for this is 'two-fold': 'Firstly, highly palatable foods can temporarily reduce cortisol. When this snack-habit is repeated a few times, it becomes a learned coping mechanism for stress reduction in the body. Before we know it, we are reaching for snacks every single time we feel a touch stressed!'
The other reason we can't stop raiding the biscuit tin is also biological: 'Our body tells us we require more energy to support our"fight or flight" needs. This increased demand is often met through grazing or snacking.'You might have noticed that your sleep patterns are a bit all over the place right now, too. This can also impact on how much we eat, as Lenherr explains:
'When we are low in sleep, both quality and quantity, we can find our snacking tendency rises. The reason being is that from sub-optimal sleep, we can be left with lowered energy which is going to increase our body’s demand for energy through food. Additionally, when we sleep deeply, our hunger and satiety hormones recalibrate.
To stop snacking so much, it can help to be more aware of what is triggering your eating patterns. If you're, try to exercise earlier in the day so it doesn't disrupt your sleep patterns and then create a bedtime routine by running a bath before bed and then swapping tech for a good book. Stressed? Sign up for a virtual exercise class and sweat it out, or just take some time out and listen to some soothing music.
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