Stress is a part of life. It can cloud vision and reduce the enjoyment of various activities. But with the right approaches, you can keep it under control.
When stress occurs, it stimulates the stress hormone, cortisol. If cortisol remains elevated, it can cause inflammation which increases the risk of weight gain, anxiety, heart disease, and other mental and physical issues. Fortunately, there are lifestyle changes and dietary supplements to reduce cortisol.
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a hormone produced naturally by the body. It helps manage stress, maintains blood sugar levels, supports immunity, reduces inflammation, regulates metabolism and sleep-wake systems, and helps control mood.
Levels of cortisol fluctuate throughout the day but increase when a person is anxious or stressed. The hormone typically helps people manage stress, but if it stays inflated for prolonged periods, it can negatively affect health.
How to Reduce Cortisol
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce cortisol naturally. Here are some suggestions.
- Eat Healthy Food: Sugars and saturated fats can increase cortisol levels. You can keep them under control by consuming a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber.
- Avoid Caffeine: Caffeine may make you feel more wakeful, but it can increase cortisol levels, sometimes to dangerous proportions. Consuming caffeine every morning can also cause your body to produce less cortisol resulting in fatigue.
- Get Enough Sleep: A lack of sleep can increase stress and cortisol levels. You can improve sleep quality by producing a relaxing environment in your bedroom, creating a regular sleep schedule, and limiting electronics before bedtime.
- Relaxation Techniques: Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing are just some examples of relaxation techniques that can keep stress under control.
- Exercise: Physical activity can lower cortisol levels and promote stress relief.
Take These Dietary Supplements to Reduce Cortisol
Several supplements on the market can help keep cortisol under control. You may want to try:
- Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager: This dietary supplement provides daily stress hormone stabilizing support. Cortisol Manager by Integrative Therapeutics features adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha and magnolia bark extract to help support healthy levels of cortisol and to help you sleep better.
- Vitanica Cortisol Relief: Vitanica specializes in women’s vegetarian, small-batch-produced supplements. Their Cortisol Relief offers adaptogenic support which helps with stress adaptation. It promotes healthy stress responses and better sleep.
- Restorative Formulations Adrenal Px Balance: Restorative Formulations create highly concentrated products that provide rapid relief. Their Adrenal Px Balance is optimized for occasional fatigue relief and stress resistance. Its adaptogenic herbs produce a calming effect.
Stress can lead to medical conditions and interfere with your enjoyment of life. Fortunately, lifestyle changes and supplements to reduce cortisol can address stress-related issues. What do you do to minimize stress in your life?
FAQs
What is a cortisol blocker?
Fish oil and ashwagandha are natural supplements that may reduce cortisol levels. If your stress levels are too high, these dietary supplements may help.
How to get rid of cortisol belly fat?
Increased cortisol levels can contribute to belly fat and other types of weight gain. You can get rid of cortisol-related belly fat by avoiding processed food, sugary snacks, and unhealthy fats. Exercise regularly and aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
What vitamin deficiency lowers cortisol?
Vitamin C aids with cortisol production in the adrenal glands. When Vitamin C levels are low, the body cannot produce enough cortisol to combat stress resulting in adrenal fatigue. Vitamin C also supports healthy immune system function, fighting off damage from free radicals so your body handles better stress management.
