Though men are blessed with smaller fat cells, there are those trying to lose weight who might be frustrated that the scale is not moving fast enough downward. Consider: it may be attributed to stress load.

For over four decades, we have known that increased levels of stress in adult males can possibly lead to serious health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and metabolic syndrome. Weight gain can also result.

Of course it’s true that food habits, which contribute to keeping your bottom line too robust, can change due to increased stress. However, it’s not as easy as cleaning up your snacking regimen. Stress affects the factory that burns fat, slowing it down in order to support the body’s nervous system. In times of high stress, the body will set off alarms to the adrenal glands, which then go into a protection mode. Adrenal glands are the body’s stress modulation center; they’re the hub of the nervous system. Their protective response is to release an excess of a hormone called cortisol, which in high levels can adversely affect weight-loss efforts.

Stress is a part of everyday life. The trick then is to convince your body in mentally and physically stressful times that it’s not under attack so it doesn’t put up these defenses. We want to keep the metabolism going.

How do you do that? By making sure the body has the right kinds of fats from the right food sources. Healthy fats not only keep the nervous system protected, they bind to the excess stored fat, facilitating its removal from the body.

Good sources of  healthy fats are nuts, avocado, and dairy. In moderation, having a healthy fat-based snack in the afternoon will help to support the metabolism while also sustaining energy.

For these reasons, snacks are as important as a meal. Letting your body know that food/fuel will be consistently coming down the pike keeps the fire burning and the system feeling secure. Snacking well is about inventory. Have what you need on hand. Grabbing a handful of roasted nuts, a hard-boiled egg, or a few slices of cheese in the afternoon will help you purge those extra pounds and keep them away. It’s dieting without deprivation. And that’s a plan you don’t have to stress over.

Kate Hantman is a certified nutrition consultant in private practice in San Francisco and is an associate of Dr. Melina Jampolis. For more information email healthykate@ comcast.net or healthykate.com.