Comfort food always tastes so good. And, well, comforting, like it says on the tin. But science has a funny way of pulling the curtain back to show that some of our favorite comfort dishes send our stress hormones into overdrive. Here are eleven comfort foods that actually raise your stress. Which one of these would you still eat?
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Mac and cheese
A bowl of mac & cheese is hard to resist, but maybe we should. Researchers have tracked how the body reacts to heavy meals like this and have found that they push your cortisol (stress hormone) levels up after eating. Yes, that “food coma” feeling has a stress hormone connection too.
Donuts
All kinds of donuts taste good. Glazed or powdered, even jelly-filled ones, make us feel better, but they have a lot of quick carbs that studies show send your cortisol levels skyrocketing. But the issue isn’t simply sugar highs & crashes. Nope, your body actually responds by pumping out stress hormones when it’s flooded with refined carbs, so it’s a real problem.
Pepperoni pizza
Pizza night always feels relaxing. But pepperoni slices, along with that doughy crust, cause serious increases in your sodium levels, and that’s been linked in research to greater activity in the body’s stress system. That includes higher cortisol. In other words, while the taste feels nice, the salt load will keep your stress levels buzzing under the surface.
Fried chicken
Crispy on the outside & juicy inside. Fried chicken hits every comfort button. Yet the problem is that meals rich in fat and calories like this are known to increase your cortisol levels soon after eating. Lab tests have proven this pattern again and again. It’s enough to make that crunchy bucket of comfort seem a lot less comforting after all.
Ice cream at night
You might think that a few late-night scoops of ice cream are harmless. Research says different. Diets high in sugar & saturated fat may cause lighter & more restless sleep. And since poor sleep itself raises your cortisol levels the next day, that evening ice cream habit could set you up for a stress-filled morning.
Pancakes with syrup
Pancakes stacked high & dripping with syrup sure sounds like a sweet way to start a lazy morning, right? But researchers have found that this sugar rush is rough on your body. Scientists compared different meal types. They noticed that carb-heavy breakfasts like these often come with a cortisol bump. Essentially, all that syrup & white flour sets off your stress response.
Buffalo wings
There’s nothing like messy fingers and hot sauce when you’re digging into wings, but the burn isn’t merely on your tongue. Capsaicin is the stuff that makes peppers spicy. And the heat from this activates your body’s stress wiring, which causes your body to release adrenaline & norepinephrine. These are the same chemicals your body makes when you’re feeling tense.
Cheesecake
It’s almost too easy to love cheesecake. It’s just so smooth & creamy. The problem? Well, that rich mix of sugar and fat is a strong cause of restless sleep, at least according to scientists studying diet & sleep quality. They found that late-night indulgences like this often lead to worse sleep quality. As a result, your cortisol levels usually rise.
Canned chicken noodle soup
There’s no meal quite as nostalgic as chicken noodle soup from a can. But it has a salty secret. Just one serving has a huge dose of sodium, and research shows higher salt intake is connected to increased cortisol levels, which takes away from that sense of comfort you might feel. Your body could actually be reacting to the sodium overload without realizing it.
Instant ramen
Instant noodles are cheap & they’re also perfect for when you’re feeling down, so what’s not to love? A lot. One block of ramen has more sodium than most people need in a day, and studies have shown that high-salt diets increase stress hormones like cortisol. That ‘comforting’ bowl could cause your body’s stress response to work overtime. That’s not good.
Milk chocolate bar
It feels good to unwrap a chocolate bar and treat yourself for a few minutes. Of course, everyone knows that milk chocolate has sugar in it. But most people don’t realize it also contains stimulants like caffeine & theobromine. Even at low doses, caffeine has been shown to raise cortisol, no matter whether you’re resting or under pressure.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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