Researchers published in the journal Neuron said that stress can override components of the brain that treat sweets and junk food as occasional rewards — making us crave them everyday.

“We showed that chronic stress, combined with a high-calorie diet, can drive more and more food intake as well as a preference for sweet, highly palatable food, thereby promoting weight gain and obesity,” said senior author Herbert Herzog of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

“Our findings reveal stress can override a natural brain response that diminishes the pleasure gained from eating — meaning the brain is continuously rewarded to eat…when experienced over long periods of time, stress appears to change the equation, driving eating that is bad for the body long term.”

Specifically, the scientists focused on the brain’s lateral habenula, which regulated the reward signals of food.

In a study with mice, the lateral habenula “was active” and prevented overconsumption of high-fat diets in a control state.

“However, when mice were chronically stressed, this part of the brain remained silent — allowing the reward signals to stay active and encourage feeding for pleasure, no longer responding to satiety regulatory signals,” said author Dr. Kenny Chi Kin Ip.

“We found that stressed mice on a high-fat diet gained twice as much weight as mice on the same diet that were not stressed.”

A particular molecule produced by the brain in times of stress called NPY is also to blame. When NPY was blocked from reaching the lateral habenula in test mice, they opted for less comfort food and lesser weight gain.

Another test using water artificially sweetened with sucralose proved that there is also an inclination for the brain to dive right into its proverbial sweet tooth stash.

“Stressed mice on a high-fat diet consumed three times more sucralose than mice that were on a high-fat diet alone,” added Herzog.

This suggests, he said, “that stress not only activates more reward when eating but specifically drives a craving for sweet, palatable food.”

Nutrition experts urge that mindful eating and really appreciating your food is the most effective way to combat long-term stress and the impacts it has on the body.

“Ideally, you should sit down and enjoy your food, and focus on the tastes, smells, and feel of it, even if it’s just for five minutes,” Ginger Hultin, a registered dietitian nutritionist told Fortune.

For more stress-related information go to STRESS.ORG

Photo by Criativithy

By Alex Mitchell  for The New York Post

The diet is plant-based with healthy fats and contrasts with the Western diet, which is high in processed foods. The study used a survey and machine learning to show that the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower perceived stress and mental distress.

Key Facts:

• Diet Impact: Mediterranean diet linked to lower perceived stress levels.
• Study Method: Surveyed over 1,500 people and assessed dietary habits and stress.
• Diet Comparison: Western diet associated with higher perceived stress and mental distress.

Source: Binghamton University

Following the Mediterranean diet versus the traditional Western diet might make you feel like you’re under less stress, according to new research conducted by a team from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

The findings suggest that people can lower their perception of how much stress they can tolerate by following a Mediterranean diet, said Lina Begdache, associate professor of health and wellness studies.

“Stress is recognized to be a precursor to mental distress, and research, including our own, has demonstrated that the Mediterranean diet lowers mental distress,” she said.

“Thus, one element of the puzzle may be explained by the fact that the Mediterranean diet may be associated with a decrease in the negative components of perceived stress and an improvement in its positive attributes.”

The Mediterranean diet is plant-based with healthy fats and mostly includes wholesome food and a spectrum of natural colors. The diet stands in sharp contrast to the Western diet, which is known for its high concentration of high-glycemic and low-quality processed foods.

While the Mediterranean diet is known for its benefits to both mental health and physical health, little is known about its effect on perceived stress, which is the idea of how much stress you are under at any particular time.

To assess this, Begdache and her students conducted a survey of over 1,500 people, asking them what types of foods they ate and assessing their levels of perceived stress. Using a machine learning model, the results show that consuming components of the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower levels of perceived stress and mental distress, while consuming Western dietary components is correlated with perceived stress and mental distress.

Begdache said that these results close a gap in the literature because the majority of studies on diet and stress focused on how stress affects dietary choices and quality. She and her team are looking at different aspects of brain function and behaviors in relation to dietary patterns.

Abstract

Effects of Mediterranean and Western dietary patterns on perceived stress and mental distress

Compared to the Western diet, the Mediterranean diet has many known benefits for both mental health and physical health; however, little is known about the effect of these dietary patterns on perceived stress and mental distress.

To assess the relationship between dietary patterns, perceived stress and mental wellbeing, an anonymous online questionnaire targeting adults 18 and older was distributed via several social media platforms and email listservs.

The survey included demographic questions, the Food-Mood Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale and the Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K-6). A total of 1591 participants completed the survey. The data was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and Pearson Correlation Coefficient in SPSS version 28.0.

The results showed significant negative correlations between perceived stress and mental distress with several components of the Mediterranean diet, such as whole grains, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and beans.

Despite being attributed to the Western diet, meat produced a negative correlation with perceived stress and mental distress. However, significant positive correlations between perceived stress and mental distress and the Western diet, such as fast food and high glycemic index food, were detected.

Our findings provide evidence that dietary patterns modulate the stress response and suggest that incorporating components of the Mediterranean diet is beneficial for mental wellbeing and stress reduction.

About this diet and stress research news

Author: John Brhel
Source: Binghamton University
Contact: John Brhel – Binghamton University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.
“Effects of Mediterranean and Western dietary patterns on perceived stress and mental distress” by Lina Begdache et al. Nutrition and Health

OP-Neuroscience News

Photo by Florencia Potter

By Stanford A. Graham, JD and Judy Mikovits, PhD 

Introduction 

Neurological dysfunctions are a profound health burden among Veterans, disrupting and debilitating their lives.1 These dysfunctions are often caused by trauma. Consistent with the variety of ways trauma is experienced, neurological dysfunctions are also a varied complex of biological system dysregulation.2 Unfortunately, even the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) describes these neurological conditions within the unhelpful category of “mental health problem[s].”3 

Fortunately, decades of research are slowly pealing back the layers of these disruptive dysfunctions and their causal complexities. We are learning that neurological dysfunctions are intimately connected with other malfunctioning body systems in a variety of ways. Moreover, recent science is also showing that, at a cellular level, these multi-system dysfunctions also share similar neurological pathways. For example, PTSD is experienced via pathways that are common to substance abuse, diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.4 Would it surprise you to learn that PTSD symptoms regularly occur contemporaneously with chronic inflammatory symptom conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease?4-7 A 2020 study published in Translational Psychiatry emphasized our more complete understanding of neurological dysfunctions this way: “PTSD is no longer classified among anxiety disorders; it is considered a trauma or stressor-related disorder… Because of the marked impact of stressors on the immune system, it is not surprising that PTSD is associated with the immune state. Increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory factors were observed both within systemic circulation and in the brain in the context of PTSD… highlighting a close link between inflammation, stress, and PTSD.”6 In fact, the more inflammation we experience, the more severe PTSD symptoms become.7 

In short, neurological disorders are causally intertwined with immune system dysregulation and its consequent impact on many other biological systems,6 including the cardiovascular and nervous systems, the digestive, circulatory,8 and the hepatic and endocrine systems, to name a few.4 These multi-system malfunctions induce recurring cell-level dysregulation as well, including redox stress, disruption of telomere homeostasis, mitochondrial activity, vitamin D activation, and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production.9,10 These factors cause us to age more quickly, to lose our ability to metabolize our food, negatively affect our ability to think and sleep, and decrease our ability to recover from injury and illness. All these issues weaken the brain and body, making us more susceptible to illness and infection.10 

What are these “pro-inflammatory factors” that link chronic inflammation, stress, and PTSD?  They are molecules produced by a dysregulated immune system. They inflame the body, its organs, blood, and tissues, including precise brain regions. They commonly proliferate in groups, including this particular set in PTSD cases: interleukin-1 (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6),1 tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon (INF-ץ), and C-reactive protein (CRP).7 This same cytokine group is not only at the heart of PTSD, but at the foundation of XMRV, COVID 19, and Acquired Immune Deficiency/Dysfunction. Indeed, these cytokines are the biological origins of both body and brain disease and dysregulation.5

So, the question becomes how can the chronic production of these dangerous cytokines be naturally decreased while simultaneously fortifying and increasing human health? The available data suggest that targeting chronic inflammation “may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating neuroimmune disease.”4 The good news is that there is both hope and progress. Recent research is exploring ingredient-complex nutraceuticals that act systemically throughout the human body to target these bad-acting molecules while supporting cell health.9 

Comprehensive research analysis reveals that a deficiency of the amino acid L-arginine (“arginine”) is a primary contributor to chronic inflammation and neuroimmune diseases.11 So, now you likely have a few questions:  What is arginine and how can you safely get what your body needs? What functions does arginine help your body perform to reduce inflammation? What is the relationship between arginine and NO production, and how does NO support vibrant health?10 

What is Arginine? 

Arginine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning under optimal conditions, the body can produce its own supply. It is derived from body protein breakdown or endogenous de novo arginine production in the kidneys.11 When cells are healthy, they also synthesize arginine from the amino acid L-citrulline (“citrulline”).10 However, when cells are under catabolic stress or trauma, the body’s arginine requirements dramatically increase to help address and resolve injuries and improve biological and neurological functions. Therefore, during injury and healing periods, arginine must be obtained from food intake, making arginine “conditionally” essential.11 Arginine is abundant in seeds, nuts, meats, seafood, and soy protein isolate. Yet, despite arginine’s seemingly high availability in non-genetically modified foods, the fluctuating rate at which the human body uses arginine influences its bioavailability and likely deficiency.12,13 For example, the small intestines and kidneys collaborate in the whole-body synthesis of arginine.14 Consequently, when these organs are dysregulated or injured, arginine deficiency is inevitable. This emphasizes the general need for nutrition-based arginine supplementation.15  

Arginine’s Function and Purpose 

Arginine plays a vigorous and versatile role in the human body. It is necessary for cell division, immune system function, ammonia disposal, reparative response to trauma, and wound healing.16 It also supports hormone biosynthesis, including stimulating the release of insulin, growth hormone, and endogenous production of vitamin D3.9 Arginine is also necessary for T-cell maturation and activation. One of arginine’s most important functions is nitric oxide production. Arginine is the sole fuel specialized cells use to make nitric oxide, often referred to as the “miracle molecule.” Those specialized cells are called endothelial cells. They compose the interior lining of the entire vascular system.17 NO is a primary signaling molecule that facilitates hundreds of cellular, organ, and biological system functions. This is why arginine deficiencies inevitably result in NO deficiencies. In turn, NO deficiencies invariably lead to immune system dysfunction, blood dysregulation, and the spiraling proliferation of dangerous cytokines and inflammatory diseases, including PTSD.   

PTSD and Global Arginine Bioavailability Ratio 

Recent research shows that solving arginine deficiency and inadequate NO production helps resolve PTSD symptoms and associated inflammation-caused comorbidities.10 In 2016, an international research team was the first to measure arginine levels in Veterans with PTSD who had inflammatory levels of IL-1β, Il-6, TNFα and IFNץ.10 Their purpose was to explore the causes of, and possible new therapeutics for, neurological and biological aspects of PTSD.7 The team discovered a surprising and direct connection: The inflammatory molecules proliferated when the Veterans had low blood serum levels of arginine. With this observation, the team’s understanding of PTSD expanded “from a purely mental illness to an illness with important somatic manifestations” which could “lead to novel treatment options for both the psychiatric and somatic aspects of the condition.”7 

The research team called their diagnostic tool the “global arginine bioavailability ratio” (GABR). This ratio identifies the amount of bioavailable arginine in blood serum compared to the combined amounts of two other amino acids, ornithine and citrulline. The research team found that higher levels of bioavailable arginine, with consequent higher levels of bioavailable NO, predictably resulted in lowered PTSD symptom severity. They emphatically concluded: “The present study provides the first evidence that the global arginine bioavailability [ratio], a marker of NO synthetic capacity in vivo, is decreased in Veterans with PTSD and is negatively associated with markers of inflammation as well as with measures of PTSD symptom severity.”7 In short, Veterans with PTSD symptoms were experiencing arginine and NO deficiencies. Thus, increasing both arginine and NO bioavailability decreased inflammatory bio-marker levels and PTSD symptom severity.  

Nitric Oxide and its Functions 

As previously stated, endothelial cells are the engine of endothelial NO production. NO creates both good outcomes and prevents bad ones. First, adequate supplies of NO regulate and optimize blood flow, blood viscosity, blood speed, blood oxygenation, vessel flexibility, insulin production, cell cleansing (autophagy), and much more. Additionally, NO maintains the cleanliness of blood vessels, blocking adhesion of blood platelets, lipids, bacteria, and other matter to the inner vascular wall. Hence, NO helps prevent strokes, unwanted blood clotting, hypoxia, and inflammation.10 NO deficiency, on the other hand, leads to strokes, atherosclerosis, and the proliferation of oxidative reactive oxygen species (“ROS”) throughout the body. In fact, NO deficiency is also the common denominator of many chronic inflammatory diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, aging, heart attack, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, migraine, and other neurodegenerative diseases.10 Maintaining healthy NO production is, therefore, key to sustained functional health. So, how do we prevent NO deficiency? 

Mechanisms of Arginine and Nitric Oxide Deficiency 

Arginine deficiency is created in two major ways. First, it results from an unhealthy diet. Second, stress, trauma, and inflammation cause the over-production of arginase, an enzyme that ravenously consumes arginine, resulting in too much ornithine.18 “Overly active arginase can reduce the supply of arginine needed for the production of NO, leading to an over-supply of ornithine. Too much l-ornithine can lead to structural problems in the vasculature, neuronal toxicity, and abnormal growth of tumor cells.”18 An increase in ROS and inflammatory molecules promote pathological elevations of arginase activity. 

Arginine metabolism by arginase, which lowers NO production in PTSD sufferers, is a function of commonly experienced and repeated fact patterns in the lives of Veterans: 

• Physical trauma, including battle wounds involving bullets, bombs, shrapnel, burns, broken bones, tissue damage, critical illness including bacteria, viruses, infection, and prolific pro-inflammatory concentrations;11 
• Psychological trauma, including seeing and hearing death, social destruction, profound injuries to humans, observing, and participating in intense human suffering;11 and  
• Invasive medical treatment and recovery, including blood transfusions and ion radiation.17 

For example, wounds, whether physical or mental, require higher amino acid levels to heal.11,17 Typically, all Veterans have inadequate levels of global arginine during wound and healing periods.11 Thus, their NO levels are also reduced, prolonging the healing process. 

Next, infection is a tremendous biological and neurological stressor via the immune system. Approximately 10% of all trauma patients develop wound infections. Infection rates soar to 30% in those who remain in the ICU for over 48 hours. Tragically, infections are the leading cause of late organ failure and contribute up to 10% of all trauma-related deaths.11 Infection also reduces already low levels of arginine thereby decreasing NO production and compromising the healing process. 

Additionally, blood transfusions cause arginine and NO deficiencies. A 2011 study found that blood transfusions impair NO production and cause endothelial dysfunction.” Moreover, stored red blood cells (“RBC”) cause the accumulation of free hemoglobin that consumes NO at a rate 1,000 times faster than when it is bound within healthy RBC. Hemolytic RBC’s also releases arginase, causing substantial reductions in intravascular arginine.19 The result?  Drastically decreased arginine, decreased NO and increased vascular damage.13 

Next, ionizing radiation in the form of CT scans, PET scans, and x-rays  immediately injures endothelial cells. This compromises NO production while simultaneously causing the proliferation of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-B, the very causes of PTSD symptoms.20 

The final mechanism of NO deficiency is a molecule called superoxide. When the body makes NO it inevitably creates superoxide. When NO and superoxide combine, they form a new molecule called peroxynitrite, considered “one of the most destructive molecules in the biological milieu.”10 Hence, helping the body create healthy NO while simultaneously reducing peroxynitrite formation is imperative for healing, sustained health, and vitality. 

This brief list demonstrates the catastrophic health consequences that can occur during common medical procedures, in addition to the those caused by the trauma being treated. These fact patterns emphasize the need for supplementing arginine in a healthy and thoughtful way, with proven nutrition-based supplements. These scientifically proven products can safely increase bioavailable arginine and long-term NO production while reducing peroxynitrite production. Perhaps most importantly, proper arginine supplementation can help Veterans reduce the inflammatory agents that manifest in PTSD symptoms. 

Erectile Dysfunction 

One final disorder associated with PTSD that warrants our attention is erectile dysfunction (ED). Research shows that ED is an expression of relational, psychological, and biological components.21 It is associated with aging and PTSD systemic comorbidities like cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, diabetes, and depression. Smoking, alcoholism and drug abuse are related behaviors. If you suffer with ED, you are not alone.  It afflicts 25% of men younger than 59 and 61% of men over 70.22 

Research also reveals that “NO is the primary biochemical mediating erectile function.” Thus, we know that endothelial dysfunction, low NO production and minimal NO release are the chief mechanisms of organic ED.22-24 So what can you do? Supplement wisely with an arginine-based nitric oxide supplement. Studies show that arginine-derived NO is a vasodilator that controls systemic and penile blood flow and plays a singular role in erectile function.25 Studies have shown that arginine-induced NO boosts desire and sexual arousal, thereby increasing libido. It also relaxes “the smooth muscles in the genital area, allowing for increased blood flow and heightened sexual pleasure.”26 Supplementing with NO can improve your relationships, health, and mental well-being. 

New Therapeutic Models and Solutions – Cardio Miracle 

The need for nutrition-based solutions that target inflammatory molecules is clear.7 Fortunately, recent studies not only support these conclusions, but also demonstrate their existence and application. When testing a NO supplement product called Cardio Miracle (CM) in their nanotechnology lab at Ohio University, researchers found that 6 grams of its amino acid complex, including arginine, when consumed together with specific mixtures of over 40 anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods, not only induced long-term production of bioavailable NO, but also significantly downregulated peroxynitrite production.10 

In 2022, ground-breaking research focused on the same NO supplement, CM. That study showed that long-term production of NO activated vitamin D3 production in the body. This biological process was previously unknown. In addition, the study revealed that CM’s specific formula down-regulated the specific group of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with PTSD symptoms.9 This research directly supports the conclusions reached in the GABR research: Targeting inflammation with nutrition-based products can resolve underlying inflammatory causes and reduce the biological consequences and symptoms associated with PTSD and other neurological dysfunctions. 

In conclusion, Cardio Miracle helps maintain healthy, systemic arginine levels, supports long-term endothelial nitrous oxide production, and down-regulates peroxynitrite and the specific group of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with PTSD symptom severity. Accordingly, supplementation with Cardio Miracle should be seriously considered in ameliorating the negative neurological and biological dysfunctions associated with PTSD and associated injuries suffered by Veterans, their friends, and families.  

References 

1. Kim, S.Y., Yeh, PH., Ollinger, J.M. et al. Military-related mild traumatic brain injury: clinical characteristics, advanced neuroimaging, and molecular mechanisms. Transl Psychiatry. 2023,13:289. 

1. Bhatt, S., et al. PTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies. Nat. 2020, 11(1):2360. 

1.  PTSD Basics – PTSD: National Center for PTSD. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/ptsd_basics.asp  

1.  Michopoulos, V., Powers, A., Gillespie, C.F., Ressler, K.J., Jovanovic, T.  Inflammation in fear and anxiety-based disorders:  PTSD, GAD, and beyond.  Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017, 42(1): 254-270. 

1.  Tursich, M., et. al. Association of trauma exposure with pro-inflammatory activity: A transdiagnostic meta-analysis. Transl Psychiatry. 2014, 4(7):e413. 

1.  Steardo, L. Jr., Steardo, L., Verkhratsky, A. Psychiatric face of COVID-19. Transl Psychiatry. 2020, 30;10(1):261.  

1.  Bersani, F.S., et al.  Global arginine bioavailability, a marker of nitric oxide synthetic capacity, is decreased in PTSD and correlated with symptom severity and markers of inflammation. Brain, Behav and Immun.  2016, 52:155.  

1.  Ghiadone, L., et al. Mental Stress Induces Transient Endothelial Dysfunction in Humans. Circulation. 2000, 102(20):2473-2478. 

1. Fliri, A.F., Kajiji, S. Functional characterization of nutraceuticals using spectral clustering: Centrality of caveolae-mediated endocytosis for management of nitric oxide and vitamin D deficiencies and atherosclerosis. Front  Nutr. 2022, 9. 

1. Dawoud, H., Malinski, T. Vitamin D3, L-crginine, L-citrulline, and antioxidant supplementation enhances nitric oxide bioavailability and reduces oxidative stress in the vascular endothelium – clinical implications for cardiovascular system. Phcog Res. 2020, 12:17-23. 

1. Morris, C.R., Hamilton-Reeves, J., Martindale, R.G., Sarav, M. and Ochoa Gautier, J.B.  Acquired amino acid deficiencies: a focus on arginine and glutamine. Nutrition in Clinical Practice.  2017, 32:30S-47S. 

1. Morris, S.M. Jr. Arginases and arginine deficiency syndromes. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012, 15(1):64-70. 

1. Benites, B.D., Olalla-Saad, S.T. An update on arginine in sickle cell disease. Expert Rev. Hematol. 2019, 4:235-244. 

1. Marcel, C.G., van de Poll, Soeters, P.B., Deutz, N.E.P., Fearon, K.C.H., Dejong, C.H.C.  Renal metabolism of amino acids: its role in interorgan amino acid exchange. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004, 79(2): 185–197. 

1. Luiking, Y.C., Poeze, M., Ramsay, G., Deutz, N.E.P. The role of arginine in infection and sepsis. 2005, 29(1S):S70-S74. 

1.  Al-Koussa, H., El Mais, N., Maalouf, H., Abi-Habib, R., El-Sibai, M. Arginine deprivation: a potential therapeutic for cancer cell metastasis? A review. Cancer Cell Int. 2020, 20:150. 

1. Wijerathne, H., et al. Mechanisms of radiation-induced endothelium damage: Emerging models and technologies. Radiother Oncol. 2021, 158:21-32. 

1. Caldwell, R.W., Rodriguez, P.C., Toque, H.A., Narayanan, S.P., Caldwell, R.B. Arginase: A multifaceted enzyme important in health and disease. Physiol Rev. 2018, 98(2):641-665. 

1. Donadee, C., et al. Nitric oxide scavenging by red blood cell microparticles and cell-free hemoglobin as a mechanism for the red cell storage lesion. Circulation. 2011, 124(4):465-476. 

1. Gottfried, K.L.D., Penn G, editors, Institute of Medicine (US) Committee for Review and Evaluation of the Medical Use Program of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Radiation In Medicine: A Need For Regulatory Reform, 1996. 

1. Kaabi, Y.A., Abdelwahab, S.I., Albasheer, O. Comprehensive Analysis of Global Research on Erectile Dysfunction from 2002 to 2021: A Scientometric Approach. Int J Gen Med. 2023,16:5729-5741. 

1. Burnett, A.L. The role of nitric oxide in erectile dysfunction: implications for medical therapy. J Clin Hypertens . 2006 8(12 Suppl 4):53-62. 

1. Bacon, C.G., et al. Sexual function in men older than 50 years of age: results from the Health Professionals Follow up Study. Ann Intern Med. 2003; 139:161–168. 

1. Brunner, H., et al. Endothelial function and dysfunction. Part II: association with cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. A statement by the Working Group on Endothelins and Endothelial Factors of the European Society of Hypertension. J Hypertens. 2005, 23:233–246. 

1. Ahmad, A., et. al. Role of nitric oxide in the cardiovascular and renal systems. Int J Mol Sci. 2018. 3;19(9):2605. 

1. Toda, N., Ayajiki, K., Okamura, T. Nitric oxide and penile erectile unction. Pharmacol Ther. 2005. 106:233–266. 

When you’re stressed, a high-calorie snack may seem like a comforting go-to. But this combination has an unhealthy downside. According to Sydney scientists, stress combined with calorie-dense ‘comfort’ food creates changes in the brain that drive more eating, boost cravings for sweet, highly palatable food and lead to excess weight gain.

A team from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research found that stress overrode the brain’s natural response to satiety, leading to non-stop reward signals that promote eating more highly palatable food. This occurred in a part of the brain called the lateral habenula, which when activated usually dampens these reward signals.

“Our findings reveal stress can override a natural brain response that diminishes the pleasure gained from eating – meaning the brain is continuously rewarded to eat,” says Professor Herzog, senior author of the study and Visiting Scientist at the Garvan Institute.

“We showed that chronic stress, combined with a high-calorie diet, can drive more and more food intake as well as a preference for sweet, highly palatable food, thereby promoting weight gain and obesity. This research highlights how crucial a healthy diet is during times of stress.”

The research was published in the journal Neuron.

From stressed brain to weight gain

While some people eat less during times of stress, most will eat more than usual and choose calorie-rich options high in sugar and fat.

To understand what drives these eating habits, the team investigated in mouse models how different areas in the brain responded to chronic stress under various diets.

“We discovered that an area known as the lateral habenula, which is normally involved in switching off the brain’s reward response, was active in mice on a short-term, high-fat diet to protect the animal from overeating. However, when mice were chronically stressed, this part of the brain remained silent – allowing the reward signals to stay active and encourage feeding for pleasure, no longer responding to satiety regulatory signals,” explains first author Dr Kenny Chi Kin Ip from the Garvan Institute.

“We found that stressed mice on a high-fat diet gained twice as much weight as mice on the same diet that were not stressed.”

The researchers discovered that at the centre of the weight gain was the molecule NPY, which the brain produces naturally in response to stress. When the researchers blocked NPY from activating brain cells in the lateral habenula in stressed mice on a high-fat diet, the mice consumed less comfort food, resulting in less weight gain.

Driving comfort eating

The researchers next performed a ‘sucralose preference test’ – allowing mice to choose to drink either water or water that had been artificially sweetened.

“Stressed mice on a high-fat diet consumed three times more sucralose than mice that were on a high-fat diet alone, suggesting that stress not only activates more reward when eating but specifically drives a craving for sweet, palatable food,” says Professor Herzog.

“Crucially, we did not see this preference for sweetened water in stressed mice that were on a regular diet.”

Stress overrides healthy energy balance

“In stressful situations it’s easy to use a lot of energy and the feeling of reward can calm you down – this is when a boost of energy through food is useful. But when experienced over long periods of time, stress appears to change the equation, driving eating that is bad for the body long term,” says Professor Herzog.

The researchers say their findings identify stress as a critical regulator of eating habits that can override the brain’s natural ability to balance energy needs.

“This research emphasises just how much stress can compromise a healthy energy metabolism,” says Professor Herzog. “It’s a reminder to avoid a stressful lifestyle, and crucially – if you are dealing with long-term stress – try to eat a healthy diet and lock away the junk food.”

Photo by simon

Photo by Tijana Drndarski

Original post              

Peer-Reviewed Publication GARVAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

We’ve all heard that we should lower our stress to improve our sleep, blood pressure and wrinkles! But can stress also be the culprit of bloat, belly fat and stubborn weight gain? Yes! You can be doing all the “right” things — eating veggies, going to the gym, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and living an active lifestyle — but still maintain a layer of fat that you can’t seem to shed. What gives?!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska