Stress, cortisol and other enemies of the waistline.

Stress, cortisol and other enemies of the waistline.
Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in the following functions and more:

• Proper glucose metabolism

• Regulation of blood pressure

• Insulin release for blood sugar maintanence

• Immune function

• Inflammatory response

Although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body. Small increases of cortisol have some positive effects:

• A quick burst of energy for survival reasons

• Heightened memory functions

• A burst of increased immunity

• Lower sensitivity to pain

While cortisol is an important and helpful part of the body’s response to stress, it’s important that the body’s relaxation response to be activated so the body’s functions can return to normal following a stressful event. Unfortunately, in our current high-stress culture, the body’s stress response is activated so often that the body doesn’t always have a chance to return to normal, resulting in a state of chronic stress.

Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:

• Impaired cognitive performance

• Suppressed thyroid function

• Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia

• Decreased bone density

• Decrease in muscle tissue

• Higher blood pressure

• Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences

• Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of , higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!

To keep cortisol levels healthy and under control, the body’s relaxation response should be activated after the fight or flight response occurs. You can learn to relax your body with various stress management techniques, and you can make lifestyle changes in order to keep your body from reacting to stress in the first place.

Exercise releases one of the best stress reducing drugs available – your bodies own endorphins,

Your body cannot tell the difference between an emotional threat and a real one. So even if you are just worrying about something in the past, or maybe that might happen in the future, your body gets ready to protect itself by either running away or fighting, happily this is rarely necessary. But and this is a HUGE but, the body has got itself worked up and cannot find a way to release this tension,

Every time you exercise you are helping your body release the tension of the stress response, making it feel calmer, healthier and safer and also giving you the natural high of endorphins making you emotional clearer and more able to function well, sleep soundly and concentrate better.