Cortisol and stress: Learn about that horrible little stress hormone Cortisol

When you think of cortisol and stress, you think of those infomercials talking about how stress cortisol causes you to gain weight. While it is true that stress and cortisol can cause you to gain weight, cortisol can also have other negative effects on your body.

What is stress cortisol?

Cortisol is a “stress hormone” steroid that is produced by the adrenal cortex. Cortisol is secreted by your body normally in small amounts, however the levels secreted can significantly increase during times when you are stressed.

Cortisol, along with the other stress hormones, is meant to get you through a short period of stress. But when you are constantly stressed, you are constantly flooded with stress hormones…

What does stress cortisol do to my body?

As mentioned before, when you are constantly stressed, your body is always inundated with stress hormones and chemicals. Unfortunately in today’s hectic world you may not have time to relax and let your body get back to the normal levels of cortisol it is supposed to have .

In normal amounts cortisol can have good effects on your body. These good effects may include a higher pain threshold, better memory function and a short burst of energy when needed.

When your body is constantly flooded with high amounts of cortisol, the bad effects start to kick in. These bad effects may be high blood pressure, lower immunity, an increase in fat storage leading to weight gain especially around the stomach, altered thyroid function, and poor mental performance. All of these can lead to secondary health problems, including heart attacks and stroke.

How can I avoid the effects of cortisol and stress?

It is important to keep your cortisol at normal levels to keep yourself healthy. In order to do this, you need to learn to relax! There are many tips and ideas for stress reduction. It is important to find some that you enjoy and that work for you. You also need to eat right and exercise so your body has a chance to stay healthy.

Always remember that life is what you make it! Enjoy it now and stop letting stressors get you down and make you unhealthy.

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