If you’re looking for a way to reduce the cortisol level in your body, Cortisol blockers will be your best option. To those who don’t know what Cortisol is yet, they’re what we commonly refer to as the stress hormone. So, the primary function of Cortisol is to help your body function well when you’re stressed.
However, you may experience different health conditions if Cortisol levels increase too much. For example, Cushing’s syndrome is a visually alert health issue as it can create a rounded face and stretch marks on your skin. It’s also caused due to an excessive level of Cortisol.
Sadly, there’s a lot of myth surrounding Cortisol and how it affects your body. Thus, in this article, we’ll share what Cortisol does so you know how to deal with an excessive level of Cortisol. Let’s get started!
What Is Cortisol?
Before getting into how Cortisol affects you, let’s dive deeper into what it is. Cortisol is a hormone that helps your body cope with stress and produces it naturally. However, it’s not made all the time. Cortisol is created when you face a situation that triggers the “Fight or flight” response.
The Hypothalamus of your brain triggers this response. When it triggers the adrenal gland, it releases a wave of Cortisol so you may handle the danger better.
We’ve already stated that the primary function of Cortisol is to help you cope easily with stress. It does so by streamlining the different operations of your body so you may focus better on the threat at hand. It also instructs your heart to beat faster. This helps pump more blood throughout your body and increases energy flow.
It affects your body in different other ways as well. For example, it can prevent insulin from working to maximize the level of glucose in your bloodstream. This helps by enhancing your body’s effectiveness in repairing damaged tissues.
Other than these, Cortisol can also affect some other functions of your body. These include:
- Mood
- Sleep Cycle
- Libido
- Physical activities
- Circulation
- Digestion
How Cortisol Blockers Help
Cortisol blockers, also known as Cortisol supplements, can prevent excessive Cortisol build-up in your body. The level of Cortisol in your body can fluctuate significantly throughout the day. The problem arises when the level stays high consistently for some time. A high level of Cortisol can cause multiple issues to arise. These can be:
- Skin problems
- Increased blood pressure
- Muscle weakness
- Frequent tendency to urinate
- Increased frequency of mood swings
- The feeling of tiredness stays all-day
- Cravings for salt
- Stomachache, especially in the morning
- Rapid weight gain
- Stretch marks
Cortisol blockers can reduce the level of Cortisol in your body, thus preventing these problems from arising. Even if you’re already suffering from these problems, the intake of Cortisol blockers can subside them to a great extent.
So, the intake of Cortisol blockers can help you. However, you should always contact a doctor beforehand. This is because the symptoms mentioned above are pretty general, and many other reasons can cause them.
Unless you get your body checked for Cortisol levels, you can’t say for sure what you’re facing. After a quick checkup, you’ll be able to pinpoint the issue and deal with it accordingly.
What are the Side Effects of Cortisol Blockers?
Although Cortisol blockers can work a charm for those suffering from excessive levels of Cortisol, they can also affect adversely. So, let’s look at some side effects you can experience from more extended use of Cortisol blockers.
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Muscle pain
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
There can be some side effects other than these. However, the ones already mentioned are more commonly found. Some of the rarer side effects are:
- Anxiety
- Irregular heartbeat
- Asthenia
- Sinusitis
- Hypokalemia
- Allergic reactions
- Abnormalities in the thyroid gland
Alternatives to Cortisol Blockers
By now, you know the benefits and side effects of Cortisol blockers. As you can see, while Cortisol blockers are effective, they can cause specific other issues to rise in you. This is why it’s essential to know the alternatives to Cortisol blockers.
You can always start with the intake of Cortisol blockers. However, if you feel it’s affecting you negatively, you’ll always be able to switch to the alternatives. So, let’s take a look at them.
Eating a Plant-Based Diet
An unhealthy diet is likely to raise Cortisol levels in your body, especially if the diet is full of sugar. This is why you should switch to a plant-based diet if you’re experiencing high Cortisol levels. A higher intake of fiber will help you reduce your Cortisol level. Not only that, but it’ll also help you regulate the number of gut bacteria. Thus, you can remove 80% of your problems by switching to the proper diet.
Deep Breathing Helps
Doing deep breathing exercises for five minutes a day, at least five times a day can help reduce Cortisol levels. This is because you can put your body at ease through deep breathing for a prolonged period.
Sleep Properly
No matter what, always try to sleep at least six to eight hours. Also, try to build a healthy sleep cycle where you sleep primarily at night.
Reduce Caffeine Intake
Caffeine can be a great way to energize yourself when you feel tired and sleepy from excessive Cortisol levels. However, it can also make you reliant on Caffeine, and it doesn’t solve the issue either.
So, you should reduce, if possible, eliminate caffeine intake when you realize you’re suffering from excessive Cortisol levels.
Conclusion
Cortisol is a necessary evil. It can help you cope with unfavorable situations but also put your life’s balance at risk. So, it would be best if you deal with excessive Cortisol levels as soon as possible.
Cortisol blockers can help you in this as they’re very effective at reducing Cortisol levels. However, they can also induce specific side effects. So, it would be best if you opt for the alternatives first. And if you cannot contain the Cortisol level with the other options, only then should you opt for Cortisol blockers.
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