Are you someone who always puts on a few extra pounds over the holidays and then makes a New Year’s resolution to undo the damage? According to the National Institutes of Health, most Americans, despite their good intentions, never completely lose the weight they gain over the winter holidays. Year after year, those pounds can add up and, in the long run, contribute to adult obesity. One of the primary reasons people gain holiday weight is stress―the result of too much to do and too little time. When you are stressed, your adrenal glands produce cortisol, a hormone that can give you that extra short burst of energy you need.
However, prolonged cortisol production leads to excessive glucose production, drives up blood sugar, suppresses insulin, increases appetite, and causes weight gain. These tips will help you plan now to control cortisol, eat wisely and enjoy the holidays with no regrets.
