Cortisol levels seem to be the new gut health in terms of wellness crazes, taking over the internet with tons of information from countless sources. As with all health trends, it’s important to be your own advocate and seek out facts over fads. Below, Dr. Greg Brannon, Amazon best-selling author and medical director of Optimal Bio, a leading Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) medical practice with a location in Mount Pleasant, offers his insights rooted in science about cortisol’s true role in the body and how to manage the stress that affects it.
Though the cortisol hormone is produced nightly and increases under stress, chronically depleting its reserve can lead to health issues. Various factors can cause this depletion, such as unbalanced hormones and lack of sleep. Restorative sleep is imperative for the body to build its cortisol reserve effectively, but common factors like blue light or a poor diet prevent this. Keeping all hormones balanced and managing stress is key to maintaining healthy cortisol levels. Dr. Brannon’s informed tips below all contribute to supporting an appropriate cortisol reserve:
- Taking an organic, natural multivitamin (that includes vitamin D3)
- Taking a healthy dose of melatonin before sleep
- Utilizing adaptogens and l-theanine to manage stress
- Keeping a dark bedroom at night
- Reading a book instead of watching a screen before bedtime
BHRT helps support healthy cortisol levels by optimizing testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, amplifying the restorative properties of sleep and reducing anxiety. Dr. Brannon works with these circumstances daily and constantly considers how to build a healthy cortisol reserve.
