Articles on Weight Loss | Topic: weight
by Prince Rutledge
What is cortisol, and what does it have to do with your ability to lose weight? Cortisol is a natural steroid hormone. It is produced by the adrenal gland cortex and is often referred to as a 'stress hormone.' Cortisol is connected to various bodily functions. It is works with the immune system, where it regulates the amount of the body's blood sugar. Cortisol is also directly related to liver function. Obviously, cortisol is an important natural steroid hormone, but what does it have to do with losing weight? It helps to learn about how cortisol levels fluctuate over the course of the day.
For most people, cortisol levels are in a state of constant flux. However, there are certain patterns of production that can be noted in most people. Most people experience higher levels of cortisol in the early part of the day. As the day progresses, cortisol levels tend to fall. Cortisol levels are at their highest at the very beginning of the day, usually peaking in the first twenty to thirty minutes that a person is awake. These patterns are common, but there are also certain triggers that can make your cortisol level rise and fall throughout the course of the day. The most prescient trigger is related to stress. Cortisol is, after all, a stress hormone. Whenever you feel stressed, your body releases a strong does of cortisol. Cortisol is directly related to the famous 'fight or flight' syndrome that one experiences when caught in a particularly stressful situation.
Why should you be concerned with cortisol production in your own body if you are concerned with weight loss? Many health experts believe that there may be a connection between cortisol production and weight gain. The theory goes like this: every time you get stressed, your body releases a strong dose of cortisol. This extra cortisol production, in turn, causes you to gain weight. Why? In addition to being a strong stress hormone, cortisol is also related to fat building at the cellular level. Although cortisol is necessary at the cellular level throughout the body, some theorize that it may also be responsible for creating extra fat cells throughout the body.
| Bit of History |
The Brain is just the weight of God—
For—Heft them—Pound for Pound—
And they will differ—if they do—
As Syllable from Sound—
| —Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) |
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How exactly is cortisol potentially responsible for production of fat cells in your body? When you get stressed, your body kicks into high gear. Your body senses the stress and the adrenal gland begins to produce extra cortisol. The cortisol that your body produces also causes sugar to be released into the bloodstream. Why is extra sugar released into the bloodstream? The extra blood sugar is released by the body as a way of preparing for the flight or fight syndrome. After all, it makes sense that your body needs more energy at this time. Recall a time in your life where you felt very stressed. Maybe you could feel your heart pounding and felt your palms sweating before giving an important speech. Everyone has faced at least one such experience in his or her lifetime. Some people feel like they are constantly on high alert. Others have chronic feelings of restlessness and anxiety that is commonly termed 'nervous energy.' It makes sense that our bodies need more energy at moments of high intensity stress. At moments like this, your body needs to release extra blood sugar and a shot of cortisol. Sometimes cortisol is released at times of physical intensity, such as during a hard workout session.
How does extra release of cortisol and blood sugar into the bloodstream affect you if you are interested in weight loss? Extra cortisol release is not inherently a bad thing. But if you are prone to chronic stress, you may be prone to weight gain. When cortisol is out of balance, such as during moments of intense stress, your body may release excessive cortisol. This, in turn, may cause the production of extra fat cells.
Much has been written about the dangers of chronic stress, and indeed it is a serious problem. Now, it appears that chronic stress may also be a culprit in excessive weight gain. What can you do if you believe your body may be producing too much cortisol, resulting in excessive, stress-related weight gain? Available on the market today are special cortisol-blockers that can help if you are indeed suffering from hormonal weight gain. Before taking such medications, you must consult with a medical professional to make sure that your weight problem is indeed hormonal in nature.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Blocking Cortisol – Does the Latest Fad in Weight Loss Help or Hurt You" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by HealthExerciseSports.com. |
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