What Is Cortisol?

Cortisol, also known as Cortisone and Hydrocortisone, is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal gland in response to stress. Cortisol is often referred to as the primary "stress hormone". In the body, cortisol is needed to maintain normal physiological processes during times of stress - without cortisol, the body would not be able to respond effectively to stress. With an effective cortisol metabolism, cortisol secretion releases amino acids from muscle, glucose from the liver and fatty acids from adipose tissue into the blood stream for use as energy. Normal cortisol metabolism undergoes a "diurnal rhythm", meaning that cortisol levels vary throughout a 24-hour period, with the highest levels typically observed in the early morning and the lowest levels in the early hours (about midnight - 2am). Cortisol levels usually show a rapid drop between 8am and 11am and a continued gradual decline throughout the day. From those lowest levels around 2am, cortisol again begins to rise to help us wake up and prepare for another stressful day. The normal range for blood cortisol levels is a fairly wide range of 6-23 mcg/dl, but these levels can vary tremendously in response to both physical and emotional stress, and even following meals.

Cortisol can have negative effects when either there is too much cortisol or the body is exposed to cortisol stress on a regular basis. Scientific evidence shows that elevated cortisol levels are associated with difficultly managing weight, difficulty feeling relaxed, sugar or carbohydrate cravings, fatigue, an increasingly negative perspective, moodiness, increased symptoms of the menstrual cycle, and increased appetite, weight gain, irritability, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, weakening of the immune system and overall poor health.

According to new studies there is a direct link between stress, tension and excess belly fat. Stress produces a fat making hormone called cortisol. Too much production of this stress hormone can causes weight gain.
When the body feels stress it produces the cortisol hormone which tells the body to save energy to fight the stress. Saving energy means storing fat. The over production of cortisol accelerates the accumulation and storing of excess body fat, particularly around the waist and stomach areas. The excess cortisol also increases your appetite, prompting the need to eat larger quantities and cravings for sweets and simple carbohydrates-foods that make insulin levels spike and then plummet. This unhealthy activity also makes one hungrier than normal and increases the urge to eat more frequently, often resulting in over-eating of unhealthy or fattening foods.

Why Stress Management?

Stress may cause your body to overproduce a stress hormone known as "cortisol" — which may be the cause of so many of our weight problems. Elevated cortisol levels may compromise other hormones, including insulin, serotonin, and DHEA. Cortisol may also decrease our metabolism, increases hunger and cravings, imbalances blood sugar (glucose) levels, and ultimately signal the body to store excess fat.

Corticel™ is specifically formulated to manage stress, naturally boost metabolism, curb appetite and cravings, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and help the body burn fat—instead of store it! Corticel™ is a safe and natural weight management program when used as suggested.