Optimal Health Daily - Fitness and Nutrition 3055: Hormones, Stress, And Weight Loss by Dr. Monali Y Desai of If We Were Family on Outsmart Your Hormones
Jul 20, 2025
Stress and its effects on weight loss take center stage, revealing how cortisol spikes can lead to cravings for sugary treats. Dr. Monali Y. Desai emphasizes the role of daily habits like tea, chocolate, exercise, and mindfulness in managing stress and curbing unhealthy eating. Understanding the brain's response to comfort foods offers insight into why we indulge during tough times. The episode equips listeners with practical strategies to outsmart their hormones and improve long-term health.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Stress Eating Story
- Dr. Monali Desai shares her personal experience of stress eating sugary foods.
- This illustrates how cortisol spikes during stress trigger cravings for comfort foods.
Cortisol and Stress Eating
- Cortisol rises when stressed and increases blood sugar levels as part of the fight or flight response.
- Stress eating fatty and sugary foods may reduce the body's stress response temporarily.
Diet Tips to Lower Cortisol
- Try eating a small piece of dark chocolate or drinking black tea daily to lower cortisol in the afternoon.
- Avoid sugary stress eating; choose low glycemic carbs or low-fat protein instead to prevent weight gain.