News — does cortisol cause weight gain

Cortisol & Chronic Inflammation Tired all the time? Struggling to think clearly, sleep well, or lose weight? These problems might be caused by inflammation and high stress levels. Stress can throw your body out of balance, leading to a cycle that makes it hard to feel better. You’re not alone in this. Let’s look at what’s going on and how you can start feeling like yourself again. Chronic Inflammation & High Cortisol Symptoms The connection between high cortisol levels and chronic inflammation often goes unnoticed because their symptoms mimic each other. Both can lead to: Persistent fatigue, even after rest...

It’s important to understand how stress affects your hormones. When you're stressed, your body produces more cortisol. While cortisol is necessary for your bodies during stress, too much can harm your sleep. Research shows that high cortisol can reduce REM sleep and increase awakenings during the night. This means you might wake up more often and not feel rested. Additionally, high cortisol levels can take resources away from hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which can worsen mood.  High cortisol levels can disrupt your sleep Chronic stress disrupt your body’s natural sleep cycle. If cortisol levels stay high at night, it becomes harder to...

You may have heard the term cortisol steal (or pregnenolone steal) in relation to stress and hormones. It refers to how, under chronic stress, the body prioritizes cortisol production at the expense of other essential hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. For those experiencing high stress, stored trauma, or hormone imbalances, understanding how cortisol affects the body can illuminate frustrating symptoms and offer a path to relief.   Common Symptoms of Cortisol Steal  The cortisol steal often contributes to frustrating symptoms, such as: Fatigue: With the body constantly producing cortisol, energy levels can feel drained. Sleep Disturbances: High cortisol, particularly...

Have you noticed that your face is puffy when you wake up or you have bags under your eyes, no matter how much sleep or self-care you get? From puffiness to bags to fine lines, these are actually the signs of “cortisol face.” High cortisol levels, triggered by prolonged stress, can silently change your appearance, affecting everything from your skin's texture to facial fat distribution. You may think it’s just aging, but it can be your body’s response to long-term stress. Face before and after releasing excess cortisol: Cortisol face shares symptoms with other stress-related conditions like fatigue, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. When your...

Feeling like menopause and perimenopause have turned life into an emotional roller coaster? You’re not imagining things! These phases of life bring a range of symptoms that often overlap with those caused by high cortisol levels (that’s your stress hormone in action).  So if you're experiencing fatigue, mood swings, sleep issues, weight gain, anxiety — it can feel like a never-ending cycle where stress from one makes the other worse. When estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate or decline, your body’s ability to regulate cortisol takes a hit, making even minor stress feel overwhelming. The result is a loop of...