Contrary to the many diagrams on the internet, stress belly has no specific look or shape. It is simply an accumulation of fat in the abdomen caused by stress. Exactly where and how the fat deposits accumulate depends on your unique body and does not follow a certain pattern simply because the fat is caused by stress.
Stress can cause a wide range of GI symptoms, including bloating and loose stool. When you're stressed, the nervous system sends signals to your gut and intestines, triggering the muscles involved in digestion to go into a “fight or flight” response.
💡 STRATEGIES TO CALM YOUR STOMACH: ✔️ Deep Breathing Exercises: Help relax stomach muscles and reduce stress. ✔️ Mindful Eating: Slow down, chew thoroughly, and avoid heavy meals during stress. ✔️ Stay Active: Gentle movement like walking can aid digestion. ✔️ Limit Caffeine & Sugars: These can worsen anxiety symptoms.
Cortisol belly simply looks like abdominal fat, and there is no way to identify it by appearance. More important than its appearance is what cortisol belly can do to your health. Visceral fat is considered particularly dangerous because of its location near vital organs and its metabolic activity.
The swelling can make your face look round and puffy. Moon face is a common side effect of corticosteroid use and a symptom of certain health conditions. Although harmless, the condition can affect your self-esteem. The medical term for this is moon facies, but other people call it cortisol face.
Treating stress belly requires a holistic approach to managing your stress and taking better care of yourself. It requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of stress and fat accumulation. As always, reducing fat requires a balanced diet.
“Adrenal cocktails”—mixtures of orange juice, coconut water, cream of tartar, and salt—are popular on TikTok, with users claiming they provide a range of health benefits, including weight management and stress relief. But there's no evidence to suggest these drinks provide adrenal health benefits, experts said.
A common symptom of an underactive thyroid is weight gain, often around the abdomen. However, the American Thyroid Association states that the weight gain may not necessarily be due to the build up of fat, but the accumulation of salt and water.
Without treatment, Cushing syndrome can cause facial roundness, weight gain around the middle body and upper back, thinning of the arms and legs, easy bruising, and stretch marks. Cushing syndrome happens when the body has too much of the hormone cortisol for a long time.
Natural remedies: Ginger, which people can sip as a tea, chew on as a root, or take as a supplement, may help alleviate mild gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea . Drinking peppermint tea or smelling peppermint oil may also reduce nervous stomach symptoms.
You can easily pinch the excess fat because it builds up under your skin. When hormonal imbalances cause abdominal weight gain, the fat accumulates around your internal organs (visceral fat). Your belly enlarges and takes on an apple shape. You may look extremely bloated instead of like you're carrying extra weight.
So, how do you know the cause? If your stomach problems arises when you feel particularly anxious and it doesn't last more than a few hours, it may be anxiety-related.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 is especially helpful for your immune system, hormones, heart health, and energy. According to one study, 8 weeks of omega-3 supplementation may reduce morning cortisol levels and symptoms of emotional exhaustion. While fish oil pills often have some omega-3, they may also contain omega-6.
The article highlights five homemade morning drinks that assist in losing belly fat by enhancing metabolism and promoting fat burning. These beverages include honey-infused lemon water, jeera water, buttermilk or chaas, cinnamon tea, and green tea.
Moderate-intensity activities, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, have been shown to reduce cortisol over time. Activities like yoga, Pilates, and tai chi also provide the dual benefit of physical activity and stress reduction, helping to balance cortisol levels while improving mood and metabolism.
Loss of muscle mass decreases how quickly the body uses calories. That can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight. Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older even if they don't gain weight.
The emptying of the stomach is delayed, which can lead to a stomachache, indigestion, heartburn and nausea.” As the stomach is slowing down, stress causes increased motor function in the large intestine. So at the same time that you're stressed, you might experience bowel urgency or diarrhea.
To lose belly fat in one week, you can initiate lifestyle changes like running for 30 minutes every day and maintaining a diet that is low in calories, fat and sugar. Exercise and diet can prevent further fat accumulation in the body and can trigger fat burning, especially in the belly.
People with Cushing's syndrome may see their face get round ("moon face"), and they gain weight in unusual ways, bruise easily or feel weak, tired and sad.
A typical adrenal or cortisol cocktail recipe includes orange juice, sea salt, and coconut water. These ingredients cover the nutrients (vitamin C, sodium, and potassium) considered essential for adrenal health and hydration.