SSP 73. Cortisol: What You Really Need to Know

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♦ Cortisol: What You Really Need to Know ♦

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Scott discusses cortisol with a more balanced view. You actually can’t live without it, and there are negative side effects to not having the right amount of it.

♦ What you really need to know about cortisol ♦

All hormones the body produces serve vital functions; that’s why our bodies make them.

Pop culture is full of reports and ads demonizing cortisol, but this is too simple.

Primarily, cortisol helps the body respond quickly and usefully to stress. Remember, cortisol doesn’t “cause” stress – it is a response to stress.

Cortisol also stimulates brain function under stress; and it stimulates the muscles, heart and circulatory systems too. This isn’t a ‘bad’ thing. If these effects of cortisol happen in the right physiological context as they are meant to, these are good effects, not bad effects.

Cortisol can help fight jet lag, fatigue, ADD, confusion, hypoglycemia, sugar cravings, anxiety, irritability, depression, low blood pressure and apathy, among others; also cortisol helps improve digestion and optimize metabolism by stimulating appetite, aid the joints movement, eases inflammation and pain (as a natural reliever), and is a natural immune system enhancer.

All hormones do their jobs in a delicate dance and balance, so there’s no reason to hold them back.

The takeaways? Stop second guessing your body’s natural hormone functions and processes. They exist for very good reasons! Stick to the basics, and eat a healthy whole foods diet that makes sense in order to help with healthy and proper hormone balance.

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♦ LINKS & RESOURCES ♦

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Scott's Main Website - scottabelfitness.com

Scott's Facebook - facebook.com/CoachScottAbel

Scott's YouTube Channel - youtube.com/scottabelcoaching