Is My Cortisol Really the Problem?

The hot topic lately has been our cortisol levels and the impact it has on our body and our appearance. With so much noise, I wanted to provide some clarity on what cortisol is and what we do with it.

Cortisol is our body's flight or fight hormone. It is produced and released by the adrenal glands right above your kidneys. Cortisol is released in response to stress in the body, both good (exercise) and bad (illness). It’s responsible for regulating metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar as well as our sleep and wake windows. It also contains anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive properties.

Signs of high cortisol vary from person to person but typically consist of: weight gain in the face/abdomen, fatty deposits between shoulder blades, muscle weakness in upper arms and thighs, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and wide purple stretch marks on the abdomen.

Ways to lower cortisol levels

• Get quality sleep

• Exercise regularly

• Try to limit stress / reduce stressful thinking patterns

• Meditation.

Supplements should be discussed with your doctor before use. and if you believe there may be more of an issue, be sure to contact your provider.