Stress and Hormones

Cortisol is one of the body's stress hormones. When you are under stress, your body's fight-or-flight response kicks in, and cortisol comes to the rescue. Even when you are not in danger, cortisol hums along, supporting your body's everyday functions.

Chronic Stress=High Cortisol Levels=Dysfunction=Symptoms=Disease

Cortisol is usually lower between 12 am and 4 am and then gradually increases until around 8 am. Rising cortisol helps you wake up and get your day started. After 8 am, it starts to decrease, preparing your body for sleep.

Several ways high cortisol can affect the body include: increasing blood sugar, accelerating heart rate, slowing digestion, suppressing the immune system, increasing blood pressure, and decreasing serotonin levels (which is the feel-good hormone).

Often, high cortisol levels lead to adrenal fatigue.

Symptoms of high cortisol include:

"Tired but wired", feeling. Unable to unwind at the end of the day. Feeling tired all day, then being wide awake at 10 pm.

Stubborn mid-section fat and bloat that won't budge even with a proper diet and cardio.

Salt and sugar cravings, like for ice cream, potato chips, and pretzels.

Waking up at 3 am, then struggling to stay awake during the day due to a midnight cortisol spike.

Puffy face and neck. Often called "moon face" or "cortisol face."

There are some things that you can do to lower cortisol.

Avoid caffeine and any herbs or drinks that increase stress on your body.

Ashwagandha and Rhodiola Rosea have been known to reduce cortisol levels.

Minerals like magnesium and B-12 are known to be effective as well.

Ginseng, Vitamin C, and Licorice Root help to support the adrenal glands.

Remember that balance takes time to develop, so it will take time to bring your body back into balance. Be kind to yourself and make positive lifestyle changes to help you be well again.

NOTE: Your primary care physician can test for high or low cortisol levels. Most don't believe that adrenal fatigue is real, but it is. (In holistic health, it is.) Having tired adrenal glands is bone-tired fatigue. Before you try any supplement, as I mentioned, consult your physician to ensure it will not interact with any of your current medications.