What chronic high stress & high cortisol mean
Cortisol is known as our stress hormone, and part of our fight and flight sympathetic nervous response.
So it’s important to our survival, acting when there’s an immediate threat as a mild pain reliever and releasing sugar into our blood for immediate energy.
Too much ongoing stress where this cycle is repeated over again, leads to chronically high cortisol, and eventually chronically low levels.
Cortisol also controls your blood pressure and reduces inflammation.
But ongoing high levels can cause
Imbalanced sex hormones
Blood sugar imbalances, causing inflammation
Weight gain, especially around the belly
Brain fog
Low energy and vitality
High blood pressure
Low immunity
High blood pressure
Importantly, high cortisol can prevent you healing from chronic disease.
How you can balance your cortisol?
Eat a real food, anti-inflammatory diet – lots of colourful veggies and fruit, naturally sourced protein, good fats (no processed seed oils), no added sugar or refined carbs
Lower stress eg exercise, journal, spend time in nature, and practice mindfulness, yoga, breathwork
Sleep, but sometimes natural support is needed to feel calm
Take adaptogenic herbs to support stress hormone management eg ashwagandha, schisandra, holy basil
Take magnesium