Cortisol is a very important hormone in the body. A high level can, for example, lead to weight gain. To lower cortisol levels, only one solution is a priority…
Cortisol is a hormone “indispensable for life” immediately reminds us of Dr Pierre Nys, endocrinologist and nutritionist. Secreted by the adrenal glands,it is what we call the “stress hormone” but it is also involved in fat metabolism.” Released significantly when the body is “attacked” by stress, cortisol causes weight gain. This is one of the main reasons for lowering excessively high cortisol levels: losing weight. The second is when you suffer from Cushing’s syndrome, a syndrome specific to people who have too high a cortisol level associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, muscle weakness, osteoporosis and/or significant weight gain depending on the case.
To avoid these health problems, you must have normal levels of cortisol in your blood. To know him, “there are 3 possibilities: blood test, urine control for 24 hours and salivary cortisol measurement”. Blood sampling remains the most common. The dosage must be carried out quickly at the risk of having a false result. Taken at 8 a.m. on an empty stomach, normal cortisol levels range from 5 to 25 mcg/dL (138 to 690 nmol/L). “Cortisol is not analyzed alone. To be relevant and know what is wrong, iIt must be analyzed in relation to ACTH, the pituitary hormone.”
Medications can be prescribed to lower cortisol levels, but the first solution is to manage chronic stress. “You have to find a way not to be too stressed or at least to be less sensitive to stress”adds the expert. The important thing is that cortisol does not surge excessively in the body. To achieve this, Dr Nys recommends meditation, physical activity, breathing exercises, relaxation and emotion management. The doctor also recommends making sure you get a good night’s sleep. However, all these tips are “simple to say, but much less easy to do”agrees the expert. Food may then be a more accessible solution.
“We know that certain nutrients have a beneficial effect on the regulation of cortisol, in particular curcumin which is contained in turmeric.” Omega-3s also benefit from an anti-inflammatory and emotional regulating action. They are mainly found in vegetable oils, such as walnut or rapeseed oil, but also in chia seeds, sardines and mackerel. The doctor also recommends red algae and salmon. “This is one of the foods that helps regulate cortisol levels a little, but it remains modest”therefore only effective in the event of a slight increase.
