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- Feel good. Eating food high in fat, sugar or salt activates the brain’s reward system. For example, chocolate has a strong effect on mood, generally increasing pleasant feelings and reducing tension.
- Self-medication. There seems to be a consistent connection between negative emotions and unhealthy foods, a phenomenon called emotional eating. In a bad mood, people are drawn to unhealthy foods (sugary and fatty) as a coping mechanism.
- The need to belong. We tend to associate certain foods with members of our family, social gatherings, and people taking care of us, such as Thanksgiving holidays with family.
- Nostalgic eating. There is a strong link between scents and emotional memory. The smell of foods can evoke vivid and detailed emotional memories of our past (Reid, et al., 2014).
Jan 6, 2023 · Nonetheless, less than half (41%) of respondents said they reach for comfort foods to "bring happiness." What's more, in a 2022 poll of 2,000 U.K. adults carried out on behalf of the supermarket ...
- Joe Phelan
- Overview
- The connection between stress and craving comfort food
- Stress and weight gain
- Takeaway
•A new study shows that stress combined with eating high-calorie ‘comfort’ food can cause brain changes that lead to more eating and increased cravings for palatable food.
•These types of food activate the reward center of the brain. And although eating these foods provides relief and pleasure in the moment, it can also create an unhealthy association between stress and the consumption of unhealthy foods.
•Stress causes physiological and behavioral changes that can lead to weight gain. These include reduced physical activity, hormonal changes, emotional eating and sleep disturbances.
During times of high stress, many people eat more than usual, commonly referred to as “stress eating.” While it’s okay to indulge every now and then, it can become a problem if food frequently becomes a source of comfort in response to stress.
According to a new study published in the journal Neuron June 8, stress paired with high-calorie ‘comfort’ food results in brain changes that cause more eating, and increase cravings for sweet, satiating food. Over time, this can cause weight gain.
Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research discovered that stress took over the brain’s typical reaction to satiety, which resulted in the continuous activation of reward signals that led to consuming foods that are more palatable.
“When we experience stress, our body releases stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol can increase our appetite and drive cravings for calorie-dense ‘comfort’ foods, particularly those high in sugar and fat,” said Dr. Johannes Uys, a General Practitioner at Broadgate General Practice based in London.
Uys was not involved in the study.
These types of food activate the reward center of the brain. Eating while stressed can create unhealthy associations. In other words, if you are less stressed after eating certain foods, you’re more likely to continue with that behavior in the future.
“High-calorie ‘comfort’ foods activate reward centers in the brain, triggering the release of feel-good chemicals like dopamine. While eating these types of foods provides temporary relief and pleasure, they also create a link between stress and the consumption of unhealthy foods, so the habit of eating these foods is continued through association,” Uys explained.
People are drawn to comfort foods for a number of reasons, Dr. Candice Seti, a licensed clinical psychologist and a certified weight management specialist, told Healthline.
“First and foremost, they literally make us feel better,” said Seti. “They are full of calories, sugar, carbohydrates, and fat. When consuming these ingredients, you may feel a sense of well-being as they trigger the brain’s reward system. To put it plainly, comfort foods give you comfort.It’s that simple. But unfortunately, this sense of wellness is short-lived.”
Stress causes physiological and behavioral changes that can result in weight gain.
“Stress keeps your body in survival mode, which means that it will act on instinct to keep you safe,” Uys explained.
When you are in a high-stress mode, the following changes can take place, according to Uys:
•Hormonal changes: Stress activates the release of cortisol, which can increase appetite and promote fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area. It can also disrupt the balance of other hormones involved in appetite regulation, such as leptin and ghrelin.
•Emotional eating: Stress can also lead to emotional eating as a coping mechanism. The combination of stress-induced cravings and the consumption of calorie-dense comfort foods can contribute to weight gain.
•Reduced physical activity: Chronic stress may lead to less motivation for physical activity and exercise, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle.
According to new research, stress combined with eating high-calorie ‘comfort’ food can lead to brain changes that result in more eating and increased cravings for palatable food.
Consuming high-calorie ‘comfort’ foods activate the reward center of the brain. While eating these foods offers temporary relief and pleasure, it can also cause an unhealthy association between stress and consuming unhealthy foods.
- Kaitlin Vogel
- Healthier ways to satisfy comfort food cravings.
- Grilled Cheese. Topping the list of most comforting foods: Grilled cheese. Does that come as any surprise? Sometimes nothing can soothe the soul quite like melted cheese sandwiched between two slices of crusty bread.
- Chocolate. We don’t know about you, but one of our favorite ways to indulge a chocolate craving is in brownie form. Unfortunately, it tends to come with a hefty dose of added sugar.
- Ice cream. Perhaps you prefer your sugar fix frozen. Skip the tub and go homemade. This banana ice cream recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie has just two ingredients: bananas and your milk of choice.
Instead, focus on balance, variety and moderation.”. 5. Plan and compensate. If you know Sunday is chicken and dumplings night at your mom’s house, eat a lower calorie breakfast and lunch, and work in some extra exercise that day. Planning and compensating goes a long way. 6. Remember comfort food can be healthy, too.
Nov 7, 2020 · We also tend to find ourselves eating foods higher in sugar, fat, or salt because it stimulates the brain's reward system and improves our mood. In fact, according to Psychology Today, the same ...
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4 Biochemical Foundations for Comfort Food Craving Serotonin Production Among the neurotransmitter most important in control of mood, hunger, and sleep is serotonin.
