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We all experience stress and elevated cortisol at times. The worry of a deadline, a strained relationship, or sudden bad news can make you feel stressed out. When you experience stress, your body increases the amount of a stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is actually in your body all the time, but it is significantly higher during stress. This helps your body cope. After the stressor is gone, your body relaxes and cortisol returns to normal.
But what if the stress is chronic? What if that stress response doesn’t relax?
Cortisol causes many changes in your body, such as breaking down stored energy and increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. These changes make you ready to handle a threat. In the short term, it’s exactly what you need. In the long-term? It can cause harm.
Think of stress and relaxation as a cycle. Your body relaxes, then ramps up to deal with stress, then relaxes again and recovers. But when you have chronic stress, your body doesn’t get its needed relaxation and recovery time. As a result, cortisol also stays elevated. But cortisol is only meant to be a short-term helper. It’s not meant to be elevated all the time and can cause real harm.
Set Aside “You Time”
Making time for yourself is critical when reducing stress. Setting aside just a few moments to practice mindfulness, meditate, or do a little exercise can help decrease stress and boost your energy.
Use Food for Your Mood
Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can help reduce stress and give your body the nutrients it needs to recover. The Mediterranean Diet in particular can help reduce stress and inflammation. Diets high in processed foods, refined sugars, and caffeine are linked to increased levels of cortisol and stress. Some foods to focus on:
Supplement Support
Supplements can be a great option for support, especially at the beginning of trying to balance your stress and cortisol. We often recommend Cortisol Manager. It supports balanced cortisol levels and helps reduce stress.* It uses both a stress-reducing and a cortisol-reducing blend including Ashwagandha, L-theanine, and Phosphatidylserine.
Buy It Now: Cortisol Manager
Reach Out For Support
Having others to lean on during stressful times can be a powerful way to help manage stress. This can include friends or family, starting mental health counseling, or starting nutrition and lifestyle counseling.
Conclusion:
Stress affects everyone. But when stress becomes chronic, taking steps to reduce stress can help lower the risks to your health.
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