What Do We Know About Cortisol?
The stress hormone cortisol regulates your fight-flight-or-freeze response, and it also regulates your body’s use of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. This is why stress can trigger the compulsion to reach for junk food. Research shows that calorie-dense foods trigger fat accumulation that inhibits your primary stress response system. So there’s nothing good about that late-night slice of cake or pie.