YOUR BELLY FAT AND BLOATING IS ACTUALLY FROM STRESS

YES, what you eat, how often you cleanse, and how much you sleep is a significant reason for weight gain; but from both a scientific and physical standpoint, the release of cortisol from a stressful event amounts to a deep imbalance in the body and increases the production fat cells.

Elissa S. Epel, Ph.D., lead investigator on a study that she conducted while at Yale's psychology department said, “Greater exposure to life stress or psychological vulnerability to stress may explain their enhanced cortisol reactivity. In turn, their cortisol exposure may have led them to accumulate greater abdominal fat.”

Cortisol affects fat distribution by causing fat to be stored centrally-around the organs. Cortisol exposure can increase visceral fat-the fat surrounding the organs.

Reasons for the release of cortisol vary they can include but are not limited to; a traumatic event, loss of a loved one, an abundance of electromagnetic frequency (living next to a power plant, being in a condo building with fields of wifi), a viral or bacterial infection, pharmaceutical drugs, loss of a job, moving, divorce, and the list goes on.

Aside from a physical aspect, weight gain specifically in the abdominal region is a form of protection both spiritually and emotionally. The emotional intelligence of our cells signals our lower abdominal area, which holds our reproductive organs, to cover with fat for protection. 

Bloating is also a significant result of stress.

what stress does to the body:

stress pulls blood & oxygen away from the stomach aka slowing digestion 

stress decreases saliva production aka slowing digestion

stress increases inflammation in the gut aka increasing the likelihood of intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

stress inhibits the ease & ability to swallow (have you ever heard a stressed person say they feel like a rock is stuck in their throat or have major belching after the eat?)

stress slows bile production and lessens stomach acid - and food will sit, ferment in the stomach and potentially cause acid reflux or Gerd.

we cannot always heal immediately or take time for yoga, nature walks, vacations. sometimes the pain is ever present and needs deep healing. in this case, have grace with both your body and your heart.