The Body System - Cortisol

The Daily Wake Up Micro-Podcast
Episode 786 of the Final Season: Our Body System – Cortisol
#knowTroy #DWUpodcast #bodysystem

All week we are talking about our Body’s System based on what Simon Sinek wrote in his book, Leaders Eat Last: Our bodies employ a system of primary chemicals in our body that contribute to feelings.

These include Endorphins, Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Cortisol. Today we are focusing on Cortisol.

Cortisol is another new one for me, although my wife knew about it – she is smart you know. Simon helped me out though with his description in his book, Leaders Eat Last. He wrote: Cortisol is a chemical in our body that is responsible for stress and anxiety. That “gut feeling” of danger. Spider Man’s spidey sense (Simon didn’t write that – I just like Spidey).

This chemical was intended to be short-term. Think caveman stumbling on a saber-tooth tiger. Fight or flight – ready . . . GO!  Yet those of us who hate what we do or hate who we are with, release this chemical often. By releasing cortisol, you are literally combatting the good results from the other chemicals.  Cortisol isn’t “bad.” It’s just meant for short term survival type results.

Our friends at the Mayo Clinic reveal that Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation.

Does Healthline.com have a list for us to lower our cortisol levels? Why yes, yes they do:

1. Prioritize sleep and get enough for the night (7-9 hours)
2. Exercise, however, not too much
3. Learn to recognize stressful thinking
4. Breathe
5. Have fun and laugh
6. Maintain healthy relationships
7. Care for a pet with kindness (not beat the dog caring)
8. Be your best self
9. Tend to your spirituality
10. Eat a nutritious diet
11. Take certain natural supplements