How can something I do with my ears affect my waistline? Just like good health has to do with what you put in your mouth. What you put in your ears is pretty darn important too.

Scientist are learning more and more about how our modern environment affects our not quite so evolved bodies. We know the importance of diet and exercise when it comes to avoiding excess pounds and inches but did you know that noise plays a big part in why it's so hard for some of us to lose weight?

I know it sounds far fetched but there is truly a direct connection between noise and weight gain. A scientific study done in Sweden concluded that the noise from traffic on ones daily commute could be responsible for a half of an inch to a full inch increase in your waistline.

Too much noise creates stress on the body. The body's natural reaction to stress is to produce the hormone cortisol. This hormone produced in the adrenal gland affects your metabolism. That affects how your body processes the food you eat.

In the Swedish study scientist studied the affects of noisy traffic on commuters. It found that those who drover in heavy traffic with lots of noise had much higher stress levels and higher levels of cortisol. They also had measurements in their waistlines that were anywhere from an inch to half an inch larger than the control group.

Obviously controlling your outside environment is something beyond your control. However when you're in the car and you're listening to this station you're listening to something you find enjoyable. That actually makes you less stressed. Your cortisol level goes down and your waistline is smaller. You're welcome.

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