Binge-Eating and Stress: If Monkeys Can Do It, Why Can't We?

We know them as "comfort foods". What do you eat when you're feeling stressed?

This study of monkey's eating habits and personality-related stresses can teach us a few things about stress, eating, and diets:



So, your immediate reaction might be:
"See, it's not so dangerous to eat like that when you're having a rough day",
but here is the harm in that thinking...

1) Monkeys live to exercise. We do not. Monkeys can easily burn off the "bad calories" from their stresses. Obviously, Americans don't spend extra time in physical activity when they're stressed.

2) Once in a while might be okay. But Americans are eating like this all the time! High-fat and high-sugar foods have become the norm. The stress-overload diet is the typical American diet.

3) The foods fed to the monkeys were safer versions. The monkeys weren't fed foods that were processed, or loaded with preservatives, chemicals, and trans fats. There is a huge difference between dried banana chips and crap-packed nacho chips.

Diet Danger!
If we learn anything from observing the monkeys, it should be that we should

Avoid Dieting when You are under Stress!

Don't set yourself up for failure! If you want to diet, but have alot of stress in your life, start the stress reduction first, then try a diet when the stress is down to a dull roar.

The best remedy for permanent Weight Loss and Stress Relief? EXERCISE!