Aside from what you eat, how you think impacts your body, too. A neuroscientist breaks down the link between undesirable belly fat and a common function of the mind.
While we learned that excessive salt craving can be anxiety-induced, working towards a sound mind can contribute to your physical appearance.
The link between mental function and belly fat
Neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart Bieber was in conversation with American author and podcaster Melanie Robbins when she explained the impact of stress on the fat stored in your stomach.
When the podcaster asked the researcher to explain how high levels of stress impact the mind and body, Dr. Tara said the stress hormone cortisol correlates with a range of emotions including fear, anger, disgust, shame, and sadness.
The receptors in the brain can detect a spike in cortisol when under stress, thus preparing against all threats – starvation being on top of the list.
When the body and mind are under stress, the cortisol reacts by “laying down fat in abdominal fat cells. We can digest that fat and stay alive until a food source becomes available,” says Dr. Tara.
However, belly fat due to stress isn’t a medical condition that can be regulated by monitoring the stress level.
Breathing exercise to reduce stress
In addition to mindfulness and a healthy lifestyle, watching your breathing is proven to reduce stress. Melanie has dedicated another video to her TikTok channel to demonstrate a method that supposedly reduces stress.
Patrick McKeown, a leading expert in functional breathing reveals a simple yet effective breathing technique to destress yourself daily.
When you find your mind racing, take a deep breath through your nose, pinch it, and hold your breath for five seconds.
Breathe out normally at the end of five seconds and continue to breathe normally for two to three breaths, before taking a long one and holding it in for five more seconds.
If you’re having difficulties falling asleep due to anxiety or stress, perhaps you should try the 4-7-8 breathing method that had an immediate impact on me.
