Why Holiday Stress Makes Us Crave Sugar and Derails Our Health
The primary culprit is cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. The extra financial pressure, travel, disrupted sleep, and busy schedules of the holidays signal to your brain that you are facing a survival threat. When the brain detects this high stress, it tells the adrenals to pump out cortisol. Elevated cortisol has two immediate effects: it demands quick fuel (sugar) to fight the "threat," and it instructs your body to store fat around the midsection as a reserve. This cortisol-driven cycle raises your blood sugar, increases inflammation, and prevents your body from using its energy efficiently.
