The symptoms of low cortisol levels include fatigue, dizziness (especially upon standing), weight loss, muscle weakness, mood changes and the darkening of regions of the skin.
Low cortisol levels will cause you to feel weak, fatigued, tired and you can have low blood pressure.
Having too little cortisol may be due to a problem in the pituitary gland or the adrenal gland (Addison's disease).
The onset of symptoms is often very gradual.
Symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness (especially upon standing), weight loss, muscle weakness, mood changes and the darkening of regions of the skin.
Cortisol is the primary stress hormone in your body which increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues.
Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation.
Having too much cortisol can cause some of the hallmark signs of Cushing syndrome which is a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin.
Cushing syndrome can also result in high blood pressure, bone loss and, on occasion, type 2 diabetes.
To reduce cortisol levels in your body.
Eat a whole-food, plant-based diet.
If needed, add supplements.
Take deep breaths.
Reduce your caffeine intake.
Get adequate sleep.
Exercise regularly.
Write in a journal.
Indulge in hobbies.
Eating foods such as processed meats, high sugar foods, caffeine and alcohol, which provide little nutritional value, have been associated with more psychiatric symptoms and can increase cortisol levels—our primary hormone responsible for stress.
Past the early morning spike, your body's cortisol reserves gradually decline as the day goes on.
They hit rock bottom typically around midnight.
Two to three hours after you've fallen asleep, your body starts manufacturing cortisol again until its zenith in the early morning.
Fish oil, and specifically the omega-3 fatty acids contained within it, has been shown to be one of the most effective supplements for reducing cortisol levels.
As your body perceives stress, your adrenal glands make and release the hormone cortisol into your bloodstream.
Often called the “stress hormone,” cortisol causes an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure.
It's your natural “flight or fight” response that has kept humans alive for thousands of years.
Caffeine elevates cortisol secretion, and caffeine is often consumed in conjunction with exercise or mental stress.
Most at-home cortisol tests are collected through a saliva sample, though a few may use urine or blood samples.
Getting tested at a doctor's office or hospital is generally more accurate than a self-collected test.