Ever since the pandemic put both acute and chronic stress in focus, it’s likely you’ve heard a lot about cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone. And while the idea of your hormones being in balance is a bit complicated—they naturally go up and down on a regular basis in response to environment, diet and other factors—understanding the dangers of imbalance in cortisol is similar to what we understand about our blood sugar balance and insulin resistance. If you are in constant stress mode with chronically high cortisol, your cells become accustomed to that environment and that interrupts the usual signalling of these natural, and very important, chemical responses.

So let’s unpack….

Chronic stress keeps cortisol levels high which initially support your body to get through the day or task at hand, but if they’ve been high for a while and you haven’t been focusing on dedicated intervention then chances are your adrenal glands are low on reserves. This “fatigued” state contributes to feeling tired at the same time.

Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone” but it actually has many critical functions — helping to regulate metabolism and blood sugar levels; impacting your sleep and your sex drive; and more.

I always refer to it as feeling wired and tired.

Here are some of the sneaky signs your cortisol could be out of balance:

• You seem to get a “second wind” at bedtime, even when you’re tired all day. described as “wired but tried”
• You’re gaining weight, especially around your abdomen, even though you’re prioritizing your diet and exercise.
• Moody as fxxx! cortisol fluctuations interact with serotonin receptors in the brain. It’s natural to feel it when our highs and lows of cortisol are out of whack with natural rhythms.
• Your sex drive has plummeted.
• Your hair is thinning or falling out in clumps.
• Your usually-clear skin is becoming prone to acne breakouts.
• You feel anxious frequently, sometimes accompanied by jitters or a nervous stomach. 
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Then there’s this favorite fun one! SUGAR CRAVINGS

Your glucose response is correlated to cortisol so any ups and downs with that hormone will create ups and downs for insulin. And when that drops, you can bet you’ll be reaching for sweets.

One way to support more balance is ensuring you consume adequate amounts of electrolytes—and that includes sodium!—in your diet.

Here’s why: when our sodium levels drop, our adrenal glands increase cortisol levels in response.

The relationship between cortisol and sodium

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that exerts its influence by binding to receptors (called glucocorticoid receptors) in nearly every human cell. Commonly known as a “stress hormone”, cortisol does indeed trigger a stress response. Specifically, cortisol:
+ Increases blood sugar
+ Increases fat-storage
+ Breaks down muscle
+ Decreases bone formation

These are all positive adaptations—if you’re in survival mode. Your rising blood sugar provides quick energy, and your muscle breakdown provides amino acids for more immediate bodily functions. But if you’re going for longevity, cortisol is not your friend.

Lots of things raise cortisol levels. Stress is the obvious trigger, but low sodium can trigger a cortisol response too.

The relationship between sodium and cortisol is bidirectional. Low sodium causes high cortisol, and high cortisol depletes sodium levels.

I am obsessed with LMNT for being an energy boosting, hormone-balancing and science-backed blend of electrolytes, not sugar (or any of the junk often seen in powdered drinks). One stick of LMNT contains a balancing: 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, 60mg of magnesium.

As soon as I started taking one packet a day, working up to two a day, I noticed two things immediately – less cravings for sweets (huge) and more energy.

Now let’s talk sleep biohacking.

If you are after a good night sleep, NextEvo has a few options that specifically help with sleepless nights. I’ve struggled falling asleep and staying asleep for months at a time. After just 1 night of using the Sleep support CBD complex, I fell right asleep and woke up refreshed the next day without any fogginess. This product is my favorite by far. Just take it about 30 minutes before you plan to go to bed and within a few minutes you’re out.

It’s no secret that many are turning to CBD for sleep thanks to its ability to relieve nighttime anxieties and stresses. Under this line of products, NextEvo offers a CBD sleep capsule that is quite unique compared to others on the market.

Each capsule contains 5mg of CBD (comparable to 20mg thanks to the SmartSorb™ technology). However, these capsules also incorporate 2mg of immediate-release melatonin and 5mg of controlled-release melatonin.

Melatonin is a natural hormone found within each of us that controls our sleep cycles. NextEvo incorporates two types of melatonin in order for us to have better control over this cycle. The immediate-release melatonin will initially cause you to grow tired and want to lay your head down. Within an hour or so, the controlled-release melatonin will make its way through your body, allowing your brain to ease into a better night’s rest.

In comparison to other CBD sleep products, I found NextEvo’s to be extremely effective. Whether you struggle with a sleep disorder, such as insomnia, or are simply trying to re-work your sleep schedule, I cannot recommend NextEvo’s Triple Action CBD Sleep Capsules enough!

The master antioxidant

Lastly, glutathione: Having optimal levels of this master antioxidant and detoxifier can help combat oxidative stress and promote healthier cells. And it’s not just for women – glutathione can also benefit sperm cells. So if you want to give yourself the best shot at conceiving, consider reducing oxidative stress with glutathione. You can buy Dr. Nayan’s high dose glutathione here. His Patent is so special and delivers transdermally through the skin. I can personally say that there is no other glutathione out there like this!

I hope you find this helpful, please do let me know.