How to Lower Cortisol Levels and Lose Weight

You know that stress hormone everyone talks about. Yes, cortisol. Cortisol makes losing weight extremely difficult, even frustrating at times. I’m sure many of you have been in the situation where you eat what you should and work out regularly, but the results are just not there. And there is a reason why that happens. That reason is cortisol.

Also called the stress hormone, cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands. The main purpose of cortisol is to control blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and regulate the metabolism. Cortisol has a direct connection to the stress response of your body, and that is fairly important for losing weight. When you are under constant stress, cortisol is released. However, too much of the hormone has a negative effect on your body, and the end result is abdominal fat.

So, what can you do? Here is how to lower your cortisol levels and lose weight in the process.

Symptoms of high cortisol levels

Before we discuss what you can do, let’s review the symptoms of high cortisol levels. If you notice at least two of these symptoms, it’s time to do something about it.

• Mood swings
• Constant fatigue
• Frequent headaches
• Digestive problems
• Trouble sleeping
• Memory loss
• Swelling in the face, feet, and/or hands
• Low libido
• Back pain
• Weight gain
• Low concentration

Reduce stress to lower cortisol levels

Since cortisol is a stress hormone, the best way to reduce it is to reduce stress altogether. Now, I know that reducing stress is easier said than done. But there are several things you can do to reduce stress. It is not like you say “hello stress, goodbye stress.”

Meditation and mindfulness are the number one practices that lower stress levels. You actually train your brain and body to turn off the stress response. Daily meditation of just 10 minutes can help, but you can also participate in a mindfulness stress reduction program.

Deep breathing exercises are another way to reduce stress. When you take a deep breath, you turn down the sympathetic nervous system. Your body’s natural relaxation response kicks in. I’m sure you can learn diaphragmatic breathing. It’s easy; anyone can do it. And that’s the way to relieve muscle tension and anxiety.

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