Food and stress

Why is that when we are stressed we turn to food, chocolate, ice cream and all of that other stuff. We love food and we need an excuse to eat it. I love eating and when I'm stressed I have more of an excuse to eat more. I have a paper coming up, oh it's time to break out the ice cream and eat ! There is always an excuse. I know I have seen many times, when someone has a hard break up, they turn to food. Food is comfort, because food can't leave you and go. There is also when your period is coming up and you get those cravings. It's like being pregnant, and having crazy cravings.