All about cortisol, just read this one article

What is cortisol?

Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal cortex and is an essential hormone for survival.

 

Affects almost every organ and tissue, for example:

· Keeps people awake

· Inhibits inflammation and immune response

· Increases gluconeogenesis and raises blood sugar

Under normal conditions, the secretion of cortisol has a clear circadian rhythm. It rises rapidly when you just wake up and then gradually decreases until bedtime. This ensures wakefulness during the day and sleep at night.

 

Symptoms of abnormal cortisol secretion

However, if cortisol secretion is out of control, various physical problems will arise.

-Stress, inflammation and aging 

The most common factors that interfere with cortisol secretion are stress, inflammation and aging. They will first disrupt the rhythm of cortisol secretion. Insufficient secretion during the day leads to lack of energy, and increased secretion at night leads to insomnia and decreased sleep quality.

If you have difficulty falling asleep, a noticeable heartbeat when sleeping, easy to wake up at night and difficult to fall asleep again, lack of energy during the day, then it is likely caused by disordered cortisol secretion.

Stress, inflammation and aging will also increase the total amount of cortisol secretion.

-Obesity

The most typical feature in appearance is central obesity.

Central obesity

It refers to a type of obesity in which fat deposition in the body develops around the heart and abdomen. There is a supraclavicular fat pad and buffalo hump, with obvious accumulation of abdominal fat, but no obesity in the limbs.

 

Cortisol is a stress hormone, and when stress comes, sufficient blood sugar is needed to cope with it. Therefore, cortisol will upregulate the expression of gluconeogenic enzyme genes, break down muscles to obtain amino acids, and then convert amino acids into glucose to increase blood sugar.

At the same time, cortisol also increases insulin resistance and promotes fat accumulation. Parts of the body that have a strong ability to utilize cortisol, such as the abdomen, face and back, are more likely to accumulate fat, so there will be a full moon face, buffalo back and big belly.

In addition, the loss of muscle in the limbs leads to a decrease in dimension, and then it becomes centripetal obesity. Simply put, cortisol instructs the body to consume muscle and eventually turn it into fat storage.

-Skin

Another seldom mentioned feature is thinning of the skin.

When the cortisol level continues to rise, the body enters a state of preparation. Therefore, the collagen and muscle in the dermis are all "recruited", degraded into amino acids and converted into glucose through the gluconeogenesis pathway to provide energy for the body.

After the collagen is degraded, the skin becomes thinner, and then it is easy to get bruises, irritation and allergies. If it is during pregnancy, it is easy to get purple stretch marks.

Some girls complain that the older they get, the more sensitive their skin is, so it is best to check whether there is a state of excessive cortisol. Other symptoms related to excessive cortisol secretion include the menopausal syndrome, susceptibility to infection, slow wound recovery, osteoporosis, indigestion, etc.

 

Causes of Cortisol Secretion Disorders

Excessive stress in youth and excessive inflammation in the body will accelerate adrenal aging.

The most notable feature of adrenal aging is the change in the circadian rhythm and increase in the total amount of cortisol. Another feature is the significant decrease in aldosterone and adrenal androgens [dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)]. This may be caused by imbalanced regulation of the HPA axis and atrophy of the adrenal reticular zone.

 

How to understand your adrenal gland status? 

In fact, you can get a rough idea by testing cortisol levels and DHEAS.

The main reasons that may lead to cortisol secretion disorders are also summarized in the table below for your reference.

 

Category	Description
Chronic Psychological Stress	Long-term tension caused by work, study, relationships, or emotional issues leads to continuous activation of the HPA axis.
Sleep Deprivation or Disrupted Circadian Rhythm	Staying up late, shift work, or irregular sleep-wake cycles can disrupt cortisol balance.
Excessive Use of Glucocorticoid Medications	Long-term use of inhaled, oral, or topical corticosteroids (such as nasal sprays or skin creams) can affect cortisol regulation.
HPA Axis Pathological Disorders	Diseases such as Cushing's syndrome (pituitary tumors), adrenal gland tumors, or ectopic ACTH syndrome disrupt the HPA axis.
Adrenal Gland Aging	Aging-related shrinkage of the adrenal cortex leads to impaired feedback in the HPA axis.
High Sugar/Fat Diet + Lack of Exercise	Induces insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which may overstimulate the cortisol pathway.
Excessive Caffeine or Stimulant Intake	Temporarily elevates cortisol levels and interferes with sleep, leading to imbalance.

 

Ways to Regulate Cortisol

Cortisol is mainly produced by stress and promoted by inflammation and aging. Therefore, regulating chronic stress and inflammation and delaying adrenal aging are the most fundamental solutions.

Regarding behavioral methods of stress relief, I personally prefer mindfulness practice, laughter therapy, morning light bathing, appropriate exercise and cold water baths.

 

If you want to reduce cortisol secretion through supplements, I recommend Omega 3, South African somnambulism and NAD+ supplements.

//omega 3

Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce cortisol levels. A longitudinal cohort study involving 2,724 participants showed that high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood were associated with lower levels of inflammation and cortisol.

  

 

//South African Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has long been used to treat anxiety and help people cope with stress. Many people say that they sleep better after taking it. I think it is likely because their poor sleep is caused by the disorder of cortisol secretion.

 

//DHA+ Supplement

NAD+ supplements refer to all health products that can promote the production of NAD+, generally including precursor substances such as nmn or nr and other synergistic ingredients. Studies have found that by promoting the body's NAD+ content through supplements, it can improve the working state of the adrenal glands and reduce cortisol secretion.

  

Here are 3 highly effective functional products we recommend:

-Biyode Omega-3 Gummies

·  Rich in EPA and DHA for anti-inflammatory effects and cardiovascular support

·  Enhances brain nutrition, promoting focus and emotional stability

·  Studies suggest Omega-3 may help regulate cortisol levels, reducing stress-related inflammation and improving mood

-Biyode Ashwagandha Gummies

·  A powerful adaptogen known to lower cortisol, reduce anxiety, and combat chronic fatigue

·  Supports the HPA axis, helping restore mind-body balance

·  Improves sleep quality and emotional resilience – ideal for high-stress lifestyles or post-exercise recovery

-Biyode DHA Fish Oil Soft Capsules

·  High-purity DHA supports brain development, memory, and eye health in both children and adults

·  DHA also influences neurotransmitter function, helping mitigate cortisol-related symptoms like mood swings and lack of concentration

 

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