5 SCIENCE-BACKED WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CORTISOL LEVELS

Cortisol is your body's main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear. Your adrenal glands are responsible for making cortisol. It plays a pivotal role for a number of things that your body does. For instance, it manages how your body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins; it keeps your inflammation down; regulates your blood pressure; increases your blood sugar; controls your sleep and wake cycle; boosts energy; and more.

A nodule in your adrenal gland or a tumor in the brain's pituitary gland can trigger your body to produce extra cortisol. This can lead to a condition called Cushing syndrome. This can further lead to rapid weight gain, skin that bruises easily, muscle weakness, diabetes, and other health problems.

However, you don't need to worry about high levels of cortisol as there are certain science-backed ways that can help you lower it down. Here is all that you need to do:

Keep Your Diet In Check

The food that you eat directly impacts your cortisol levels. A study involving 200 teenagers showed that those who ate a Mediterranean diet had low cortisol levels that those who did not perform this diet. However, it is best to eat an overall balanced diet.

Wellbeing Of Your Gut Microbiome

Not many know but your gut health and mental health are linked through the gut-brain connection. This is a network of chemical messages, nerves and trillions of microbes that form your gut microbiome. Therefore, if you want to lower your cortisol levels it is essential to jeep your gut microbiome healthy.

Exercise Regularly

It is no secret that exercising is an essential for a healthy mind and body. However, regular exercise can also help lower your cortisol levels. According to studies, people who are physically active have a lower cortisol response to stress than those who are not that active.

Fix Your Sleep Cycle

The relationship between sleep and cortisol is a two-ways street. Elevated cortisol levels may lead to a poor night's sleep, and those who have problem sleeping can contribute to an increased cortisol. Therefore, make sure you maintain a good sleep hygiene.

Balanced Lifestyle

Creating a balances lifestyle is essential for your well-being. It will also help and manage your stress levels. Focus on a couple of things to strike balance in your life. For instance: building happy relationships; getting a pet; finding a hobby, and more

2024-06-06T10:49:35Z dg43tfdfdgfd