Cortisol is typically known as “the stress hormone.” In our modern day culture where busy is the new norm, stress definitely seems to be something we’re all trying to avoid, and therefore cortisol is usually seen as an enemy.
Cortisol, however, isn’t all bad. In fact, it plays an important role in fat loss too. Dr. Jade Teta and author of the Metabolic Effect more accurately describes cortisol as the Jekyll and Hyde of hormones for how it impacts fat storage (by interacting with insulin) and how it also impacts fat release (by interacting with human growth hormone, catecholamines and lower levels of insulin.)
Most people want to avoid fat storage and many who want to lose weight want to encourage fat release. For people who are physically and mentally stressed out, this may require working to lower higher than normal cortisol levels to help restore balance.
Lowering cortisol naturally means taking a step back to identify unhealthy lifestyle habits that may be leaving you feeling overworked, drained, fatigued and just plain stressed out. These habits will need to be restructured or replaced so that your lifestyle habits work to nourish and rejuvenate your body rather than do the opposite.
