Belly Fat and Cortisol - How does Stress contribute to Belly Fat?

Belly fat and cortisol do have a connection. In fact, your belly fat could be the cause of more serious health problems than how you look in a bikini. Belly fat has been known to have a connection with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some types of cancers, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis, asthma, and stress.

You should follow us on twitter.

How does Stress contribute to Belly Fat?

When your body experiences stress, it releases stress hormones produced in the adrenal glands. These hormones are: cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. The process starts by releasing norepinephrine into your body when you become stressed. This hormone will stop your body from producing insulin, which can lead to diabetes. Epinephrine relaxes the muscles in your stomach and intestines. It will also decrease the blood flow to your organs. Once your stress has passed, cortisol will tell the body to stop producing these hormones and have the body go back to digesting regularly. When your body is constantly stressed, your cortisol levels will remain high.

When your cortisol levels remain high, your body will “think” it is going through a hardship and will think it is going to starve. It will begin to hoard any fat you eat or the fat already present in your body.

When it starts to hoard your fat, it will take it from healthier areas, such as your butt or hips. It will move the fat to your abdomen, where more cortisol receptors are located. It will then turn healthy peripheral fat into visceral fat, which is fat located in your abdomen that surrounds your organs. This increases inflammation and insulin resistance in your body.

This belly fat will then increase the cortisol levels in your body because there are higher concentrations of an enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. This turns into a cycle that is hard to break, creating more visceral fat.

Breaking the Connection of Cortisol and Belly Fat

Breaking the connection between cortisol and belly fat is one of the best things you can do to help eliminate belly fat, as well as improve your overall health. The most effective way to decrease cortisol levels in your body is to reduce your stress . We also recommend you read these tips on how to burn belly fat .

Tips to Reduce Stress, therefore Reducing Cortisol

Deep breathing with meditation or yoga
Make a list of things you need to do and cross them off the list when completed
Take a warm bath.
Watch a funny movie.
Eat healthy, try these vegetables to burn belly fat , and exercise.
Take Vitamin C to reduce cortisol.
Determine why you are stressed and try to resolve the problem.

Prescription Medications

There are many prescription medications available to help reduce stress. If you have tried all other options besides medication, it is important to contact a doctor. There are many side effects to prescription medications. It is important to monitor the effects.

Breaking this connection between belly fat and cortisol is the key to preventing cortisol belly fat.

Click here to follow us on twitter and our facebook fan page.