Summary: ----------------------------------------------<br> ♦ Cortisol: What You Really Need to Know ♦<br> ----------------------------------------------<br> <br> 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.<br> <br> <br> ♦ What you really need to know about cortisol ♦<br> <br> <br> All hormones the body produces serve vital functions; that’s why our bodies make them.<br> <br> Pop culture is full of reports and ads demonizing cortisol, but this is too simple.<br> <br> Primarily, cortisol helps the body respond quickly and usefully to stress. Remember, cortisol doesn’t “cause” stress – it is a response to stress.<br> <br> 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.<br> <br> 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.<br> <br> All hormones do their jobs in a delicate dance and balance, so there’s no reason to hold them back.<br> <br> 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.<br> <br> <br> --------------------------<br> ♦ LINKS & RESOURCES ♦<br> --------------------------<br> <br> Scott's Main Website - scottabelfitness.com<br> <br> Scott's Facebook - facebook.com/CoachScottAbel<br> <br> Scott's YouTube Channel - youtube.com/scottabelcoaching<br>
