A new study shows that a messy kitchen can cause people to eat more junk food than a clean kitchen. Looking at a messy space may cause people to feel out of control, and the state of your surroundings can contribute to your weight.
“Being in a chaotic environment and feeling out of control is bad for diets,” explained lead author Lenny Vartanian, PhD, in a press release. “It seems to lead people to think, ‘Everything else is out of control, so why shouldn’t I be?’”
The Cornell Food and Brand Lab evaluated reactions of women in a recent study. Half of the participants were placed in a neat and quiet kitchen. The other half of the women were placed in a messy, loud kitchen with dirty dishes and papers everywhere.
Both kitchens had snacks such as carrots, crackers and cookies on the table available for the participants to eat.
Those in a messy kitchen ate more — actually twice as many cookies as those in the neat kitchen — about 53 calories more in 10 minutes.
The study went a step further and created a writing exercise that stressed out some of the women before they entered the kitchen. These women ate 100 calories more than women who had been given an exercise to be calm before they entered the kitchen.
When our bodies are stressed and release the cortisol hormone, this encourages us to eat. A Harvard Health Publications article entitled “Why stress causes people to overeat” reported that “the adrenal glands release another hormone called cortisol, and cortisol increases appetite and may also ramp up motivation in general, including the motivation to eat.”
They said that one-fourth of Americans consider their stress level an 8 on a 10-point scale. That means that many people are releasing cortisol as part of a continuing stressed state they are living in.
The Harvard article goes on to state, “Stress also seems to affect food preferences. Numerous studies — granted, many of them in animals — have shown that physical or emotional distress increases the intake of food high in fat, sugar, or both.”
The high-fat, high-sugar foods have an effect that inhibits the part of the brain that contribute to stress and emotions.
So here's one of the lessons that we can learn from this research. One solution to overeating is to develop daily habits that will help us relax or de-stress.
I find that one of the best ways of doing that is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness can help us to make better food choices. Meditation can calm the release of cortisol in the body, reducing the motivation to eat. Exercise and social support can be helpful in reducing the stress response, as well.
So keep calm and put down the cookie when you walk into the kitchen.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Daemon Jones
Dr. Dae's website: www.HealthyDaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Dr. Daemon Jones is your diabetes reversal, hormones, metabolism and weight loss expert. Dr. Dae is a naturopathic doctor who treats patients all over the country using Skype and phone appointments. Visit her or schedule a free consultation at her website www.HealthyDaes.com
Reviewed March 10, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith