Beat Stress-Eating

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Yes, you binge when you're frazzled--but here's how to get a handle on it for good.

By Sharon Liao

A huge fight with your mom or a killer work deadline can send you straight for the cookies--that's no surprise. But now new research shows that even small annoyances, like misplacing your keys, can derail healthy eating habits. When researchers from Britain's University of Leeds tracked the habits of 422 employees, they found that women who experienced these little stressors tended to eat fewer vegetables and snack on more fattening foods throughout the day. The reason: Your body produces the hormone cortisol under pressure, which triggers cravings for high-calorie foods, explains study author Daryl O'Connor, Ph.D. Our advice? Next time you want to nibble, choose a healthy treat--like carrots and hummus--that'll provide the energy you need while keeping your weight in check.

3 Surprising Binge Triggers
Despite your best intentions to blow off steam in a healthy way--whether it's at the gym or with a moment of deep breathing--you still may not have complete control over your willpower. Here are some reasons you may be overeating:

1. You're surrounded by noise. When researchers at Pennsylvania State University had 34 women take a test in a loud room, those who weren't able to shut off the noise consumed twice as many calories later than those who could.
TAME THE TENSION Bring a pair of earplugs or an iPod. It will muffle the noise and help you take charge--so you'll feel less frustrated.