6 Ways I Lowered My Cortisol (and How I Maintain It)
The things that actually worked (and no, it's not more cardio!)
Let me tell you about the bloodwork that changed everything for me. It was in the middle of my divorce, and every marker came back normal except one: cortisol and it was off the charts.
I had fatigue that sleep didn’t even begin to touch. I had sugar cravings like I hadn’t felt since struggling with an eating disorder. And I had weight my body was holding onto like its life depended on it.
That bloodwork changed how I move through my days. I made some health and lifestyle changes that have consistently worked for me and almost one year later, I am in the best shape of my life–at the ripe old age of 45. So I’m laying out the five things that actually moved the needle for me, and what I still do now to keep my cortisol from creeping back up.
I want to say this up front: I’m not a doctor and this isn’t a protocol. It’s what worked for my body. Always consult with your doctor or trusted professional.
First, what is cortisol and why is it important?
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. Your adrenal glands release it any time your body senses a threat, whether that’s a work deadline, an argument, or an actual emergency.
And what happens if your cortisol levels are too high?
In small doses it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to, it wakes you up in the morning and helps you push through a hard moment, then it’s supposed to come back down. The problem is when it doesn’t come back down. When cortisol stays elevated for weeks or months at a time, your body starts treating everyday life like an emergency, and that takes a major toll.
How to detect?
For me, high cortisol showed up as:
Hair shedding
Fatigue that didn’t let up no matter how much I slept
Weight gain, especially around my midsection, that wouldn’t budge
Cortisol isn't part of a standard blood panel. If you suspect yours might be high, you have to specifically ask your doctor to test for it. I had to request mine. ALWAYS advocate yourself.
