For most people, it is no secret that good health is largely determined by the state of hormonal balance. Abnormal hormone levels can negatively impact every system of the body. This also applies to stress hormones. High cortisol translates into many unpleasant symptoms and actually contributes to the deterioration of health. Therefore, it is worth ensuring its correct level. What are the symptoms of high cortisol? How to lower cortisol naturally? What lowers cortisol levels? We answer these questions in this article.
Cortisol allows the body to cope with stressful situations and, in times of danger, trigger appropriate reactions. Therefore, it should be considered that this hormone is essential. However, you should know that an unfavorable, even harmful phenomenon is an excess of cortisol that persists for a long time. The symptoms of this condition are extremely unpleasant.
Cortisol – what is it?
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced and released by the adrenal glands. It determines the regulation of stress levels, can suppress inflammation, regulate blood pressure and sugar levels, and participates in controlling the metabolism of macronutrients. In the event of a potential threat, cortisol is released. This mechanism serves to strengthen the response: fight or flight. The problem is that constantly elevated levels of this hormone are highly undesirable.
Chronic stress is one of the main causes of increased cortisol
How to lower cortisol levels? First, you need to determine what factor is responsible for this condition. It must be remembered that while the body must maintain the correct concentration of this hormone, a condition in which there is a constantly high level of cortisol should be considered pathological. The reasons may be different.
Increased concentration of this hormone may occur in the course of certain diseases or be the result of taking certain medications. However, practice shows that high cortisol levels are most often caused by chronic stress.
Stress level has a direct impact on well-being and health. When you feel nervous, unpleasant symptoms appear that do not go away for a long time. Not everyone associates them with too high levels of stress hormones.
Too high cortisol – symptoms
Excess cortisol manifests itself in various ways. The symptoms are not specific, so they can be easily confused with symptoms of other conditions or diseases. However, if they occur, it is worth considering whether they are related to too high levels of this hormone.
Too high cortisol – symptoms:
- increase in blood glucose levels,
- stimulated appetite,
- stimulated desire,
- increased frequency of urination,
- trouble falling asleep,
- insomnia,
- hypertension,
- mood swings,
- muscle mass reduction.
How to lower cortisol naturally?
Since chronic stress is largely responsible for too high cortisol, you should consider how to deal with this phenomenon. In other words, the answer to the question "How to reduce cortisol levels?" correlates with the answer to the question "How to reduce stress?"
Appropriate exercises and lifestyle changes are highly effective in this regard. How to lower cortisol naturally? How to calm your nervous system without using pharmaceuticals? The best ways are:
- breathing exercises,
- taking care of the time and quality of sleep,
- regular physical activity,
- maintaining healthy relationships with the environment,
- finding the right balance between work and rest.
How to lower cortisol – diet
Above, we explained how to lower cortisol naturally. We cannot fail to mention that while natural methods bring good results, reducing cortisol also requires changing eating habits. It is important to remember that there is a relationship between diet and hormonal balance. How to lower cortisol with a properly composed menu? We hasten to explain.
Scientific research confirms that excessive sugar consumption has a negative impact on the level of stress hormone. And not only sugar, because elevated cortisol may also be related to frequent consumption of excessive amounts of saturated fats. Therefore, it should be rightly concluded that a properly balanced diet, i.e. rich in macro- and microelements and excluding ingredients considered harmful, will actually contribute to reducing the concentration of this hormone.
We are perfectly aware that preparing healthy dishes on your own may be difficult, especially for people suffering from chronic lack of free time. However, you can maintain a healthy diet without cooking. Eatyx cold meals and other ready-made meals come to the rescue.
Take, for example, eatyx COMPLETE CHOCOLATE MEAL . This is a delicious dish to prepare yourself (it takes only 10 seconds), developed by experts in the field of healthy eating. It contains all the necessary macronutrients, balanced in the most favorable proportions. In addition, it has as many as 26 vitamins and minerals. There is no added sugar or preservative in the meal, so Eatyx with chocolate flavor can be safely included in a healthy diet. Our offer also includes dishes in other flavors, including:
The usefulness of eatyx meals in the fight against increased cortisol is determined by one more factor - the content of adaptogens. This term covers natural substances that increase the body's adaptability, which translates into a better response to unfavorable environmental conditions resulting from the presence of stress factors, both physical and emotional. One of the most effective adaptogens is ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha and cortisol
This name refers to a plant that has been used in natural medicine for centuries. Thanks to the content of alkaloids and saponins, it reduces inflammation and pain, and these are just some of its beneficial properties.
Ashwagandha and cortisol – where is the relationship? As an adaptogen, this plant increases the body's ability to cope with stressors and thus reduces the concentration of this hormone. Anyone wondering how to reduce stress and calm the sympathetic nervous system should consider taking cortisol-lowering supplements containing ashwagandha. A great choice will be eatyx HYPER BRAIN IQ BOOSTER - a high-quality supplement in the form of a shot.
