When under stress, the body releases hormones that can cause blood glucose levels to increase. Both mental and physical stress can raise blood sugar levels.
When stressed, the body prepares itself. Insulin levels fall, glucagon and adrenaline levels rise, and more glucose is available in the blood stream.
If stress doesn’t go away, it can keep your blood sugar levels high and put you at higher risk of developing insulin resistance and even mood disorders.
Short term stress can be managed by the body. Long term stressors are harmful.
When you are stressed, the “stress response” sends a cascade of hormones, including cortisol, to be released. Cortisol can significantly affect our bodies, including our inflammatory response, immune system, and metabolism.
High levels of stress can
- Elevate cortisol levels, with impacts how our bodies metabolise sugar
- Elevate our glucose (blood sugar) levels
- Inhibit the release of insulin, which regulates blood sugar
- Change our body’s sensitivity to insulin release
- Make our body more resistant to insulin
When you experience increased levels of stress, you are more likely to eat poorly, skip meals, and sleep badly all of which can also contribute to unregulated blood sugar issues as written about yesterday.
TODAY’S HACK
A beneficial stressor on metabolism is pulses of cold therapy!
The Effects of Cold on Metabolism Cold exposure has been shown to influence glucose, fat, and protein metabolism positively. Here’s how:
- Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Cold stimulation activates the AMPK enzyme, promoting glucose uptake into cells and enhancing insulin sensitivity, particularly in muscle and fat tissues.
- Energy Expenditure Boost: Cold exposure increases energy expenditure, which may further support insulin function.
- Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) Activation: Cold exposure triggers the activation of brown fat, a specialized tissue that generates heat by using blood sugar (glucose) and fat, thereby supporting metabolic health and improving insulin sensitivity.
- Vasoconstriction: Cold causes blood vessels to constrict, preserving core body temperature by reducing blood flow to the skin.
Over time, regular exposure to cold may even increase resting metabolic rate, which can support healthy weight management and body composition. Gentle Ways to Incorporate Cold Therapy Cold therapy doesn’t need to be extreme. Gradual exposure can yield benefits:
- Standing outside in cool weather for a few minutes to induce mild shivering.
- Trying a cold foot bath or a brief 30-second cold water rinse on your legs.
- Gradually building up to cold showers or more immersive therapies if desired.
