Stress Drives Up Weight-gaining Hormones

The link between insulin and the stress hormone cortisol is complementary. When insulin levels rise, so do cortisol levels. When cortisol levels rise, so does insulin. In other words, chronic elevated insulin levels can increase your stress levels. Stress increases cortisol, and the more cortisol in your body, the higher your insulin levels.

Cortisol Overload

Cortisol overload causes weight gain in your midsection--the area around your waist.

Cortisol overload breaks down muscle, thus causing your basal metabolic rate to slow down.

Because cortisol overload reduces the number of muscle cells, a person has fewer cells to uptake blood sugar and so more sugar gets stored as fat, increasing your body fat levels.

Cortisol uses up brain neurotransmitters. When the neurotransmitter serotonin is depleted, a person may have difficulty sleeping and may experience depression and anxiety. Which can lead to overeating and cravings for starches and sugars.

High stress makes it harder to lose weight. When stress levels are high, you may not be able to lose weight as quickly as you want. When you reduce your stress, you'll lose more quickly.

To learn more, read The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss. To order, click here.