Why chronically low cortisol is just as bad as chronically high
Cortisol is not the enemy, even though instagram tells us that it is.
Cortisol is essential for your heath and Its our necessary survival hormone. However, the perfect amount of cortisol is crucial.
Too high then you can have issues with weight gain, acne, fatigue..
Too low then you can have issues with weight loss, muscle weakness and again, fatigue..
So it is not always about how to lower your cortisol, sometimes its about increasing your cortisol when it should actually be relatively higher in the first place. For example, in the morning when you first wake up.
Some people have suffered with high cortisol for so long that now, their adrenals struggle to make sufficient amount of cortisol at all.
You want to encourage your body to make sufficient amounts of cortisol for optimal health.
Here are some tips:
Sunlight in the AM - promotes the healthy production of cortisol upon waking.
Prioritise quality sleep - this is protective of HPA functioning.
Breathwork - activation of the parasympathetic nervous system which encourages healthy cortisol production.
Eat whole foods - anti-inflammatory foods that are full of minerals an vitamins that support your stress response.
Fuel for your training - don’t train fasted! Avoid putting further stress on your body.
