Don’t Let Cortisol [the Stress Hormone] Ruin Your Holidays

The holiday season seems to stress everyone out, at least a little bit. This can lead to unhealthy fluctuations in cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Cortisol, produced by your adrenal glands, unleashes your “fight or flight” response that gives you that extra burst of energy necessary to successfully complete all the decorating, cleaning, shopping, gift wrapping, cooking and entertaining you have to do. But if stress is unrelieved and your cortisol levels remain too high for too long, it can wreak havoc on your health. Longer-term cortisol secretion causes the body to produce excess glucose, which can increase your blood sugar levels, suppress insulin production and lead to weight gain. Inevitably, the holidays mean lots of rich, tempting, sugary food. Cortisol also works to stimulate appetite, so eating a lot can easily turn into eating too much. These great tips will help you control stress, avoid packing on extra pounds, and enjoy the holidays with no regrets. …..Read More