Internet searches for cortisol were spiking in the UK last week, with Google reporting that “how to reduce cortisol” was the fourth most popular search in the UK over the last 90 days. While we all need some cortisol – the primary stress hormone – in order to regulate our metabolism and blood sugar and maintain a healthy hormonal balance, too much – the result of chronic, prolonged stress – can be damaging. If you think you may be suffering from sky-high cortisol exposure, the first step towards fixing is knowing how to recognise the signs.
5 symptoms that are worth paying attention to If you’re constantly feeling stressed, it can make you more likely to overeat, or make poor decisions when it comes to which foods to snack on. That said, weight gain around your stomach isn’t just indicative of eating the wrong thing, it’s also a direct result of too much cortisol in your system. When the body is put under stress, cortisol and adrenaline (another hormone produced as part of the stress response) are released to help prepare the body to cope.
This increases the body’s metabolic rate and releases stored glucose , but any glucose that isn’t used is converted into fat and stored in the abdomen. The reason this accumulates quickly is down to the type of stress threat faced, which is less likely to be a physical one (such as running away from a tiger), and more likely to be a psychological one (like an overflowing inbox). Because of this, you’re less likely to.