DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, neuroscientist and author Dr. Tara Swart discusses the impacts of stress on the body, particularly the accumulation of belly fat due to the hormone cortisol. She explains that this fat cannot be lost through dieting or exercise alone, as the root cause of stress must be addressed to reduce cortisol levels. Dr. Swart also highlights the importance of adequate sleep for the brain's cleansing process and overall health.
The episode touches on the trickle-down effect of stress within organizations, where leaders with high cortisol levels can negatively impact the well-being of their subordinates. Dr. Swart shares strategies for managing stress, such as physical exercise to expel excess cortisol and journaling or talking to process thoughts and emotions.
Additionally, Dr. Swart emphasizes the significance of restorative sleep, which allows the brain to flush out toxins and regenerate cells. She recommends aiming for 8 hours and 15 minutes of sleep per night and sleeping on one's side to facilitate the cleansing process.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Stress leads to the accumulation of belly fat due to the hormone cortisol, which acts as a survival mechanism but cannot be lost through diet or exercise alone.
- Adequate restorative sleep, ideally 8 hours and 15 minutes per night, is crucial for the brain's cleansing process and overall health.
- Leaders with high stress levels and cortisol can negatively impact the well-being of their subordinates through a trickle-down effect.
- Physical exercise and journaling or talking can help manage stress by expelling excess cortisol and processing thoughts and emotions.
- Sleeping on one's side can facilitate the brain's cleansing process during sleep.
- Addressing the root causes of stress and reducing cortisol levels is essential for overall health and well-being.
- The brain has a cleansing system called the glymphatic system that actively flushes out toxins and waste during sleep.
- Chronic stress can lead to physical symptoms such as sleep disruption, digestive issues, skin problems, and mood changes.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So with my clients in financial services, it got to a point where as soon as I walked into the room, they just lift their t shirt up and say, now, you know how I've been in the last month?“ by Tara Swart
- “And she shouted out, so he's the reason that I'm fat. But Steve, no one laughed.“ by Tara Swart
- “So it's all about getting cortisol and or the negative thoughts that are associated with your stress out of your brain body system.“ by Tara Swart
- “So one of the things I do say to people who don't sleep well is if you find yourself awake at night and you're not lying on your side, turn yourself onto your side, because that's the best position for this cleansing process.“ by Tara Swart
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Episode Information
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
DOAC
4/5/24
In this moment, neuroscientist and bestselling author, Dr Tara Swart discusses the brain-body impacts of stress and the dangers of being around stressful people. While people think of stress as being solely a mental health problem, it can physical health impacts, the most obvious being an increase in belly fat. This fat is a result of the stress hormone cortisol, which because of evolution, tells your body to hold onto fat as a survival mechanism. Because of this, you can’t shift this belly weight with either diet or exercise, the only thing that will change it is addressing the stress that is causing the release of cortisol. Dr Swart also says that leaders who cannot handle their stress, who she calls, ‘leaky cortisol people’, can cause a trickle down effect in an organisation, causing stress and negative health impacts on the people below them.
Listen to the full episode here
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Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos
Tara:
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