cortisol ness

health hacks ness et al..

via random tweet (one of many on the tongue cortisol ness these day) [https://x.com/CoachDanCole_/status/2115417492646715667?a=smBETXrr_Zd1S041xKE&s=20]:

A neurologist claims:

“Stick out your tongue for 40 seconds; this eliminates cortisol faster than any pill or breathing exercise.”

via google:

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that acts as the body’s primary stress hormone and regulates vital functions like metabolism, blood pressure, and sleep cycles

  • Stress Response: Triggers the “fight-or-flight” response, releasing glucose for quick energy and temporarily shutting down non-essential functions.
  • Blood Sugar & Metabolism: Manages how your body uses carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
  • Blood Pressure: Helps maintain normal blood vessel constriction and cardiovascular function.
  • Circadian Rhythm: Follows a natural daily cycle, peaking about 30 to 45 minutes after you wake up and dropping low at night.
  • Inflammation: Suppresses immune system inflammation.

High vs. Low Levels

  • High Cortisol (Hypercortisolism / Cushing Syndrome): Can be caused by chronic stress or tumors. Symptoms include weight gain around the face and belly, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and weak muscles.
  • Low Cortisol (Adrenal Insufficiency / Addison’s Disease): Causes extreme fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, and low blood sugar.

To clarify, you actually do not want to completely get rid of cortisol, as it is essential to life. However, social media trends often talk about “getting rid of it” because lowering excessively high or chronically elevated cortisol is crucial for your long-term health.

When you suffer from chronic, everyday stress, your internal “alarm button” stays on. Bringing those elevated levels back down to normal is highly beneficial for several reasons:

1. It Protects Your Heart

When cortisol stays high, it narrows your blood vessels and keeps your blood pressure elevated. Lowering it reduces your risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes

2. It Reverses Abdominal Fat Storage

High cortisol tells your body to constantly relocate fat stores deep into the abdominal region (visceral fat). Lowering your cortisol stops this survival-mode fat storage and makes weight management much easier.

3. It Restores Your Immune System

While short bursts of cortisol reduce temporary inflammation, chronic flooding of the hormone eventually desensitizes your body. It suppresses your immune system, making you much more susceptible to catching colds and viruses.

4. It Stabilizes Your Blood Sugar

Cortisol floods your bloodstream with glucose to give you immediate energy for a crisis. If it stays high, it decreases your insulin sensitivity, which can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.

5. It Fixes Your Sleep and Brain Function

High cortisol at night blocks your body’s ability to produce melatonin, leading to insomnia. Lowering it allows your brain to rest, clearing out the “brain fog,” anxiety, and memory issues associated with chronic stress

Note: If your body truly lacked cortisol, you would develop a life-threatening condition called Addison’s disease, causing severe fatigue and low blood pressure. The goal is always balance, not total elimination.

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