Why Chronic Stress Makes It Hard To Make Healthy Choices

But also, I would say it works both ways. So if you are chronically stressed, it's quite hard to make those good, healthy food choices. And I, you know, let's take January in the UK and the US. Every January, people are trying to get healthy. I'm going to reduce my sugar intake this year. I'm going to cut out alcohol this year. But here's the problem I've seen, is that people can use willpower for a week, for two weeks, maybe three weeks. But if the sugar or the alcohol was being used to help them soothe the stresses in their life, they're never gonna maintain it long term. So, I actually, I agree food is a big problem, but I found with some patients addressing their stress levels means they feel less of the need to, you know, to binge on sugar because they're not feeling as stressed. If you're happy, you know, you're not gonna eat that bag of chips or a whole cookie. Yeah, because a lot of our food choices are dictated by our emotions and, if we're feeling down, if we're feeling stressed, if we feel we've got too much on, actually that sugary chocolate bar or that bag of chips actually helps us feel good in that moment. So short-term benefit, but long-term harm.