Is Stress Making You Fat?

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It’s true, stress can make you fat. It’s because of a hormone calledcortisol. This hormone is always present in your body, but your bodysecretes it at higher levels when it’s under stress. Cortisol haspositive effects on when it’s secreted in small amounts – it gives youbursts of energy, increases memory function and lowers painsensitivity. However, when secreted I larger amounts, Cortisol can havenegative effects on your body and your health. It is necessary for usto reduce our stress level to keep cortisol levels under control. Thething is, we live in such a high-stress culture that some people’ssecretion of cortisol doesn’t slow down and they live in a state ofwhat is called chronic stress.Chronic stress sufferers end up having many negative effects because ofthe high levels of cortisol in their systems. The effects include bloodsugar imbalances, high blood pressure and increased abdominal fat. Thisis caused partially by the fact the people who secrete high levels ofcortisol tend to eat more in general, and more specificallycarbohydrates, than their counterparts who secrete less cortisol duringstressful situations. This excess abdominal fat alone can bedetrimental to your health because it increases your risks of heartattacks, strokes, and bad cholesterol.The best way to combat the negative effects of high levels of cortisolis to give yourself opportunities to reduce your stress and “kick-in”your body’s relaxation mechanisms. Most people do know that physicalexercise is a great stress reliever. But what they don’t know is thatmost traditional forms of exercise such as running, walking and joggingand aerobics classes only serve to help reduce the body’s physicaleffects of stress. To get the full benefits of physical and mentalstress reduction, people need to find activities that work their bodiesand minds. Training martial arts does this. It’s impossible to train martial artswithout fully concentrating on what you are doing. This concentrationhelps your mind relieve its stress as well. Activities like martialarts that require you to concentrate on your movements and corestrength give you a well-rounded stress relief; not just on your body,but on your mind as well.At the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts we use Shoalin breathing methodseffectively accomplishing this goal of combating everyday stress. Thesekung fu breathing methods (which have been refined over 1500 years)include physical movements which relieve the physical symptoms ofstress, and breathing patterns which clear the mind and relieve mentalstress. Training these methods will help to bring down your levels ofcortisol, which can help relieve another stressor in your life…needingto lose those few extra pounds. So if your diet isn’t working it might be stress. Combat stress and getin better shape by training the mind and the body with martial arts.Combined with a healthy diet and a positive life style you cant beat it!To your health,Robert JonesMaster Instructor The Academy of Kempo Martial ArtsBellevue, WA.800-508-6141To Your Heath,Robert JonesThe Academy of Kempo Martial ArtsBellevue, WA. 1-800-508-6141Article Source: http://www.articlecube.comRobertJones runs three successful martial arts schools located in Bellevue,Lynnwood, and Fedreal Way Washington. He has been helping families makepositive changes in their lives through martial arts for over 20 years.He has also written http://www.martialarts-instruction.com/consumer.htmlHe can be reached at the Academy of Kempo Martial Arts. 800-508-6141. His schools can be found on the web athttp://www.kungfutemple.com/