There is a good chance the word rings a bell to you: cortisol. But what is it and how does it affect you?
Cortisol is a hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter -chemical messengers in the nervous system - in your brain. It is known as the “stress hormone”. Our body produces it during intense or threatening situations to help us face them.
Studies have shown that moderate levels of cortisol can be good for your health, as it is needed for those fight or flight response scenarios. Moreover, it can produce positive effects such as controlling your blood pressure and reduce inflammation.
However, although the amount of cortisol you have is highly regulated by your body to ensure the balance is correct, sometimes your body can produce too much or too little of it. When you feel overly stressed, your cortisol levels can remain high, which can have a detrimental effect on your health.
When you feel stressed and your cortisol levels are off-balance, here are a couple of things you can do to remove the hormone from your body naturally:
Some foods that may help to keep cortisol levels stable include:
