We’ve all felt it—the sudden pull toward chocolate, chips, or something sweet when stress hits. These cravings aren’t just about willpower; they’re deeply tied to the way our hormones and blood sugar interact. At the center of this story sits cortisol, often called the “stress hormone,” and its influence on blood sugar regulation and food choices. Cortisol and Blood Sugar: The Stress Connection When stress spikes, cortisol is released. One of its key jobs is to increase blood sugar so your body has quick energy to deal with a “threat.” This was useful when threats were saber-toothed tigers, but today the “threat” might just be an inbox full of emails…