In recent years, you’ve probably heard a lot of things about the hormone cortisol. Numerous articles have been written that could give people the idea that cortisol is something that you want to avoid. A more balanced view would acknowledge that cortisol is a part of a complex system, so it might be more effective to create an environment where it is kept under control. To you along, here are some reasons why you might want to lower your cortisol levels.
Cortisol is a Safeguard
Cortisol is indeed a stress hormone, but there are still many things that aren’t fully understood about the complex mechanisms behind these processes. What science has shown us is that it is produced during stressful situations to help regulate responses to stimuli resulting in the fight or flight responses. This should already tell you that this process is reserved for extraordinary emergencies only, so living life in that state would be unhealthy.
When appropriate, the hormone works in favor of quick energy straight to muscles and other areas. Still, if unchecked, cortisol could create a conflict between other essential processes leading to illness.
Heart and Arterial Disease
When cortisol is pumped into the body, it immediately causes constrictions in the vascular system to quicken the delivery of oxygen to your muscles. Still, living day-to-day life in that state can put tremendous strain on your heart.
Under those circumstances, it’s also essential to keep a close eye on your arterial elasticity because a brittle and clogged vascular system is a leading cause of complications during those kinds of medical emergencies. That is why smoking, excess weight, and dehydration are leading contributors to heart disease.
Weight Gain
When your body is repeatedly subjected to a wave of cortisol, it can create a situation where your body is constantly burning the newest and most readily available biofuel, which is never the energy that is stored in the body. It’s whatever the body can turn into sugars as soon as possible.
Some issues occur on the cellular level that can make a stressed-out person more apt to eat high-calorie foods so that the body will get more of what it’s looking for at a quicker pace. Still, an unawareness of this fact can lead to a cyclical problem that compounds itself.
Multiple Issues Arise
One of the most significant issues with the overproduction of cortisol is that it is produced where many other important hormones are made. If your body is focused on producing cortisol, it simply won’t have the time or energy to produce other vital hormones like the ones that support sex drive and regulate your immune system.
This can lead to reduced functionality in many areas, so you must find effective ways to deal with stress so that your life can be more balanced, both emotionally and biochemically.
It’s clear that cortisol is a hormone that you should keep under control, but it’s also important to understand that it is part of a natural process. The key is not to avoid cortisol altogether but to create an environment that can work in harmony with other essential systems in your body.
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