Cortisol Definition and General information
What are the ideal cortisol levels? What is cortisol? What does cortisol do? Cortisol is a hormone your body releases when you’re under stress. It is often called the “stress hormone” because of its connection to the stress response.
However, cortisol is much more than just a hormone released during stress. It plays many important biological functions in the body. Along with helping the body to respond to psychological and physiological stress, cortisol function also plays other key roles including how your body breaks down carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Cortisol is made by your adrenal glands, two small glands that sit on top of your kidneys.
This hormone can help control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, and assist with memory formulation. Healthy cortisol levels also assist with controlling salt and water balance, which helps maintain proper blood pressure, optimal nerve and brain activity and memory formulation, and normal heart and immune functions. In women, cortisol also supports the developing fetus during pregnancy. All of these functions make cortisol a crucial hormone to protect overall health and well-being.
Cortisol is an “Alpha” hormone, and it affects virtually every other hormone in the body. Too much cortisol causes increased appetite, poor blood sugar control, and excessive fat storage, in particular, belly fat1. With above normal cortisol level it is much harder to lose weight even with the “perfect” diet and exercise program. Worse yet, cortisol also reduces the body’s ability to process amino acids and build muscle. Cortisol excess can inhibit growth hormone (a fat-burning hormone) levels by stimulating the release of growth-hormone antagonists—all bad news for the bodybuilder.