Do you feel tired and stressed more often than not? Are you noticing that you’re gaining weight easily and struggling to lose it? These can be signs that your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, are on the high side.
Chronic stress is a big culprit. Our bodies release stress hormones such as cortisol as part of the “fight or flight” response. This usually takes us far beyond the amount of cortisol that we actually need and can potentially be dangerous for health.
There’s a lot you can do to keep your body’s cortisol levels under control and here are a few tips:
- Keep stress levels under control. This can be easier said than done but chronic stress is one of the biggest reasons why cortisol levels stay high. Mindfulness, deep breathing, getting out in nature and journaling have all been shown to help with stress management.
- Getting plenty of sleep is important too but this can be a catch 22 situation as you can find it hard to sleep when cortisol levels are high. You may also find that you feel tired in the day but wide awake at night. Try Cortisol Manager at bedtime to balance cortisol levels and re-establish your sleep pattern.
- Eat plenty of whole foods with anti-inflammatory benefits. Chronic inflammation can be a factor for high cortisol levels so it makes sense to eat a diet that is low in processed foods and rich in nutritious, anti-inflammatory foods. Stay clear of high GI foods, trans fats and refined carbs and up your intake of fiber, lean protein, probiotics and healthy fats. Download a FREE Clean Eating Menu Plan here!
- Regular exercise can help to manage stress and balance hormones. For cortisol, it can bring things back into balance and can be effective at helping your body to deal with stress more efficiently. Grab a friend and sign up for a class. No one ever regrets a great workout!
- Essential oils can also help to reduce stress and balance your hormones. Lavender, bergamot, frankincense and myrrh are just a few examples of essential oils that can be effective at reducing the stress response.
- Some herbs act as adaptogens, which means that they help your body to cope better with stress. They can go a step further than this and balance hormone levels naturally. Some can also be anti-inflammatory and balance blood sugar levels. A few examples of adaptogens are Ashwagandha, licorice root, medicinal mushrooms, holy basil and Rhodiola. One of my favorite adrenal healing remedies is Exhilarin.
- Testing is a very important part of the healing process. Book your Adrenal Testing Panel here with Dr Cobi.
Start by taking the Adrenal Health Questionnaire to determine if your cortisol levels are causing your health issues.
Until next time!
Dr Cobi