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The Hormone Cortisol

The Hormone Cortisol

‘’Snooze Button Syndrome’’

If you’re the type of person that has to press the snooze button multiple times in the morning and can’t venture passed Starbucks during the day without an extra shot of coffee, then read on…

Cortisol is a hormone of energy that is released in times of stress. It should be produced in a rhythm, with high Cortisol levels in a morning, decreasing throughout the day, till we have low levels on an evening.

One of the first signs that the body is producing too little Cortisol in the morning is the inability to wake up naturally feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead. This is typified by ‘snooze button syndrome’’ whereby we search for an extra 5 minutes…and an extra 5 minutes in bed.

Another sign that our natural Cortisol rhythm is out of sink is the inability to relax and to fall asleep on an evening. Elevated Cortisol levels in the evening therefore result in a sensation of being ‘’stressed & wired’’. Other signs and symptoms may include feeling stressed and hot, stressed and low libido, and stressed and anxious.

So why is this the case?

Well many factors affect how much Cortisol the body produces, one of which is modern day life. Experts estimate that we have 100 times more stress in our lives than our grandparents. Now I’m sure grandpa would dispute this fact, however, the electronic age of email and blackberries has resulted in people being contactable 24-7, with little or no downtime during the day. We unfortunately live in an ‘’express age’’ where everything is required yesterday. This lifestyle initially results in chronically elevated levels of Cortisol, and eventually complete adrenal fatigue, whereby the body produces very little Cortisol at all.

So how does this impact me trying to get lean?

Well, every time we elevate Cortisol levels a large amount of blood sugar is dumped into the system. If this blood sugar is not burnt off, it taken and stored as body fat. This process can also brings about insulin resistance, a significant problem in itself that we will discuss another time. Also, when the adrenals become fatigued they produce lower amounts of the bodies Androgens, theses are the hormones that burn body fat and help us get lean. They are also responsible for our sex drive!

How will this affect my body fat distribution?

Elevated Cortisol levels over a prolonged time are related to increase in body fat around the abdominal area. With specific regards to your health, this body fat distribution pattern significantly increases our risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

How can MyBodyRevamp help?

Firstly, if you are feeling tired and lethargic and some of the symptoms mentioned in this article ring true with yourself then a good starting point would be to take the Cortisol/DHEA test. This will determine the health of the adrenals, giving more clinical certainty of correct diagnosis.

Alternatively, Biosignature Modulation may be the appropriate starting point. Your individual Biosignature profile will provide an indication of whether or not Cortisol is one of the limiting factors to you loosing bodyfat. Biosignature protocols are then specifically designed to restore the natural Cortisol rhythm.

Finally, the appropriate exercise programme can be given to support adrenal health and also to prevent further damage being done. The good news here is that the modifications can often include doing less for greater results.

Here are a few basic tips to get you started on the right path to managing your Cortisol levels. Try to rule out food sensitivities as these are a major source of stress to the body.Work on strategies to deal with work and relationship stress.Stay well hydrated – dehydration is a major source of stress that we don’t realise we have until we hydrate properly.Eat a low glycemic index diet and ensure you eat at regular intervals.