Cortisol: How to Balance Cortisol Levels to Burn Fat

Описание: Cortisol: How to Balance Cortisol Levels to Burn Fat- Thomas DeLauer… The Good and the Bad of Cortisol - http://www.ThomasDeLauer.com

Cortisol: How to Balance Cortisol Levels to Burn Fat

When you hear cortisol, you may automatically jump to stress and inflammation. There is more to cortisol than just functioning as a stress hormone. It is possible to have both too little and too much cortisol. So what exactly is cortisol and what does it do? Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced in the adrenal glands, with its secretion controlled by the adrenal glands, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Most cells in the body have receptors for cortisol, so this hormone impacts much of your body in numerous ways.

Cortisol functions include:
Regulates blood sugar
Regulates metabolism
Plays a part in memory
Impacts inflammation, including decreasing inflammation
Blood pressure control
Water and salt balance
Supports a healthy pregnancy

Proper cortisol function is in fact part of maintaining a healthy weight and losing fat. Slight elevations in cortisol levels activate an enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). Burning fat involves hormones - HSL releases stored fat from your body when queued by cortisol. Your body is then able to utilize this fat for fuel, thus leading to fat burning.If your cortisol levels remain elevated for too long, the opposite can happen and cortisol will trigger fat storage.

Excess cortisol causes:
Chronic stress
Cushing’s syndrome

Excess cortisol can lead to:
Weight gain, particularly around the core and face
Mood swings
Anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Labido change
Menstrual changes
Chronic inflammation

Too little cortisol causes (known as hypoadrenalism):
Iron deficiency
Long periods of excessive synthetic cortisol treatment (can reduce the natural release of cortisol)
Addison’s disease - an autoimmune disease that can lead to adrenal gland damage
Tuberculosis
Other rare medical conditions

Too little cortisol can lead to:
Muscle loss and muscle fatigue
Weight loss
Fatigue
Mood swings
Dizziness
Anxiety
Difficulty sleeping
Darkening of the skin

What Can You Do? Controlling stress can help with both high and low cortisol levels, so adding meditation and yoga to your daily routine can help. Adaptogens such as ashwagandha can help to balance your stress response and cortisol levels.
Research bomb: In a 2012 randomized, placebo-controlled study of 64 adults with chronic stress looked into the stress levels and serum cortisol levels following ashwagandha supplementation for 60 days. Those who took the Ashwagandha supplements were found to have lower serum cortisol levels when compared to the placebo group. Curcumin has also been shown to help reduce cortisol levels, so add turmeric to your foods. Speak with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.

References:
1. What does cortisol do?
http://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-h...

2. Reduced cortisol secretion in patients with iron deficiency
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...

3. Low cortisol symptoms, causes and treatment
https://blog.udemy.com/low-cortisol/

4. Hormones and stress: cortisol
https://www.metaboliceffect.com/hormo...

5. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of Ashwagandha…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...