Here's How High Cortisol Levels
(Stress) Stops You From Losing Weight!

It is important to be aware of the impact high cortisol levels have on your body as well as the relationship that exists between cortisol and weight gain. Many people wonder how stress can affect health and their ability to lose weight and in this article we will examine how cortisol can stop your weight-loss efforts in their tracks and more importantly, how you can reduce cortisol and the impact high cortisol levels have on your body.

Stress is a normal part of daily life and no matter what the cause of stress, whether mental or physical, the body deals with it in exactly the same way; it invokes the 'fight or flight' response. This means the central nervous system is stimulated and the pituitary gland releases a hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which targets the adrenal glands and induces the secretion of cortisol.

High Cortisol Levels

Unfortunately though, high cortisol levels in the body have a negative impact on health and make it very difficult to lose weight. Furthermore, if the cortisol levels remains high for a long period of time (chronic stress), it can have serious detrimental effects on your health. It can lead to 'burn-out', which is now commonly referred to as 'adrenal fatigue' or 'adrenal exhaustion'.

Even though cortisol does promote the breakdown of fats into fatty acids and glycerol, which may lead to greater fat burning, and acts as an anti-inflammatory, which helps the body get rid of excess fluid, there are far more mechanisms through which cortisol actually stop weight loss and promotes weight gain.


Here's How High Cortisol Levels
Stop Your Weight Loss Efforts:

Increases insulin resistance


Cortisol increases blood sugar levels by inhibiting the peripheral utilisation of glucose by decreasing the translocation of glucose transporters, particularly GLUT4, to the cell membrane.

If cortisol levels remain high for some time it may significantly contribute to insulin resistance and therefore, stop fat burning and weight loss.



Increases the production of reverse T3


Thyroxine (T4) is normally converted into both T3 (tri-iodothyronine) and reverse T3. Under normal circumstances only about 40-45% of T4 gets converted into rT3. However, if the body is deficient in certain nutrients or experiences high levels of stress, then more T4 gets conveted into rT3 instead of T3. BCN's Thyron contains the nutrients that are required for the conversion of T4 into T3 as well as 3 different adaptogens, including Rhodiola, which helps to reduce the impact stress has on the body.



Causes greater muscle breakdown


Cortisol promotes 'gluconeogenesis', which is the creation of 'new' glucose, from the breakdown of body proteins. Most of the body proteins come from muscle tissue, which means that your metabolism will slow down, affecting your body's ability to lose weight.



Lowers testosterone production


Since cortisol and testosterone come from the same 'mother hormone', pregnenolone, if production of one hormone increases, production of the other hormone results in a corresponding decrease. Therefore, an increase in cortisol levels in the body means a reduction of testosterone in the body as well.

Testosterone may promote fat burning and weight loss through various mechanism so it is important to keep levels in the body as high as possible. Increasing testosterone production in the body may be achieved naturally by simply incorporating various strategies into your lifestyle.



May have a negative impact on sleep


High cortisol levels, which result from high stress levels, may have a negative impact on your ability to have deep, high-quality sleep. When you sleep your body produces growth hormone, which is the body's most powerful lipolytic (fat-burning) hormone. Higher levels of anabolic hormones, like testosterone, also get produced, but the production of both of these hormones will be suppressed when cortisol levels are high.



May lead to emotional eating


The relationship between cortisol and weight gain tends to result primarily from the impact stress has on 'emotional eating'. When some people are highly stressed they tend to react by eating. This is because they are trying to change their biochemistry (internal body functioning). Some people may try to do this by smoking, others by drinking alcohol and some by eating food. Of course, the foods people tend to eat when they are stressed are high in sugar and/ or fat and this leads to weight gain.



There are many natural ways to deal with and overcome the effects of stress on the body and to reduce cortisol. Relaxation techniques, meditation and breathing exercises are all beneficial.

Unfortunately though, when you're busy during the day you don't often have time to perform these exercises. This is where a quick and easy option like, BCN's Rhodiola Advanced may be just what you need!

Rhodiola rosea is a natural stress-relieving herb that is mainly grown in high-altitude environments around Europe and Asia. It has been studied extensively in Russia and Scandinavia for over 30 years.

It contains a number of biologically-active compounds that have a range of health benefits in the body, especially when it comes to dealing with stress effectively and in order to reduce cortisol.

If you are having trouble losing weight despite eating well, exercising and taking the necessary supplements, and are experiencing high levels of stress, then BCN's Rhodiola Advanced may be useful in helping your body deal with the stress more effectively by lowering your body's cortisol levels and therefore, may also assist your weight-loss efforts.







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Information very helpful  starstarstarstarstar
I had my cortisol levels tested not too long ago. I have high levels at night, about the time I would normally be going to bed. I never realized that high ...

This sounds very interesting!!!  starstarstarstarstar
I've been struggling for a long time with weight loss. I am in a very stressful relationship and so all this makes sense! Thank you so much for the information!...

Great Article  Not rated yet
This makes why I have trouble losing weight when I have been eating right make sense.

How can I reduce this stress? How can I stop going into "starvation"...




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