Comfort eating can impair body’s recovery from stress, study shows

Researchers find turning to fatty and other unhealthy foods for solace reduces vascular function and raises risk of heart disease

Using fatty foods to comfort eat during times of stress can impair the body’s recovery from the pressure, research suggests.

Many people turn to unhealthy foods such as chocolate or crisps when they are feeling the strain, but researchers have found that this can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause poorer vascular function – which in turn can have a negative effect on mental health and cognitive function, and increase the risk of heart disease.