[sidebar]In prehistoric times, stress eating may have been a smart survival strategy, say researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. Your agitated ancestors grabbed berries after the marauding tigers slunk away; you head for the candy machine after the boss roars. “You need to refuel for the next crisis,” explains study coauthor Norman Pecoraro, PhD. Researchers found that stress prompts rats to release hormone signals for high-calorie eating. Pecoraro says it’s surprisingly similar in humans. Bad news: The eat-eat-eat signal only stopped when the rats had stored the extra calories as tummy fat. Good news: Exercise, sleep, and healthy eating may keep the stress eating cycle from kicking in. Check out these six healthy ways to tackle your stress.
