The symptoms of low cortisol are low blood pressure that causes dizziness when standing, persistent fatigue and unexplained weight loss and muscle weakness.
Low cortisol is also known as adrenal insufficiency and occurs when your adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones as it normally should.
The symptoms of low cortisol or adrenal insufficiency often develop slowly and can also easily be confused with other conditions.
The key symptoms and indicators of low cortisol include.
Irritability, depression and in women, irregular menstrual periods or even a loss of interest in sex.
Darkening of the skin also known as hyperpigmentation, which is most visible on skin folds, scars, pressure points and gums.
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain as well as low blood pressure, dizziness or lightheadedness when standing also known as orthostatic hypotension and very low blood sugar.
And extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, muscle or joint pain and decreased appetite.
If you experience these symptoms you should let your doctor know so they can test you for low cortisone levels and do a hormone test like an ACTH stimulation test to find the underlying cause of the low cortisol levels.
The best supplement for cortisol is Ashwagandha.
Ashwagandha is one of the best supplements for cortisol and it helps to regulate the HPA axis, which is your body's stress response system and studies have even shown that Ashwagandha can reduce cortisol by up to 23% to 32%.
The typical dosage of Ashwagandha is 250 mg to 600 mg daily.
And standardized extracts of Ashwagandha like KSM-66 or Sensoril are also highly recommended.
Other best supplements for cortisol are magnesium glycinate and L-Theanine.
L-Theanine is an amino acid that is naturally found in green tea.
L-Theanine promotes alpha brain waves, which induces a calm and focused mental state while reducing stress induced cortisol spikes.
The typical dosage of L-Theanine is 100 mg to 200 mg daily.
Magnesium Glycinate is good for cortisol as magnesium glycinate is a critical mineral that is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions, and it supports parasympathetic "rest and digest" activity.
Magnesium deficiency also makes stress worse and glycinate is also a highly bioavailable form that is gentle on your stomach.
The typical dose of magnesium glycinate is 200 mg to 400 mg daily.
Other good supplements for cortisol are Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Phosphatidylserine.
Phosphatidylserine is a fatty compound that is shown to blunt excessive cortisol spikes during or after intense physical or mental stress.
And Omega-3 fatty Acids help control inflammation and reduce the physical effects of chronic stress, which can also assist in lowering your morning cortisol levels.
Although supplements should only be used as a support mechanism for cortisol and lifestyle changes like better sleep, routine exercise and even mindfulness are the most proven ways of lowing cortisol.