3 Tips to Balance Cortisol
Here are Dr. Sara Gottfried’s 3 tips that you can implement today so you can start feeling relaxed tomorrow.
Strategy #1: Wean Off the Caffeine
Drinking caffeine may help you feel more energized in the short-term, but it’s a high interest loan against your body that you will eventually have to pay back. In addition to spiking cortisol, caffeine dehydrates you, restricts blood flow to the brain, decreases sleep quality (even consumed in small amounts, early in the morning!), and has been linked to anxiety, bruxism (clenching or grinding your teeth at night), and the dreaded muffin top.
Strategy #2: Try Yoga – Or Just Breathe
Yoga has been shown to raise your serotonin, the happy brain chemical responsible for mood, sleep, and appetite. For women this is especially important, as we have 52% less serotonin than men.
I also believe that yoga is the best form of exercise for stress relief and getting your cortisol to a sweet spot.
Today’s 10-minute yoga video above can help you battle stress and curb your cortisol levels.
Research shows that people who regularly practice yoga have lower cortisol levels. Today’s 10-minute yoga routine includes gentle, restorative poses to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and cultivate your inner calm.
Strategy #3: Take Stress-Relieving Supplements
There are a number of supplements proven to regulate cortisol levels. I recommend starting with Fish Oil (Omega-3): 1,000 – 4,000 mg/day.
