How to Treat High Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps to regulate the immune system, blood sugar and energy production. If your adrenal glands produce excessive amounts of cortisol, you'll experience weight gain, reduced immune function and stomach ulcers, among other dangerous side effects. The adrenals will produce elevated cortisol levels in response to stress, when your body experiences a "fight-or-flight" response. However, stress levels don't have to be severe to raise your cortisol. Normal daily stress can elevate your cortisol levels enough to see the bodily effects.

Things You'll Need

• Nutritional supplements
• Phosphatidylserine supplement (optional)
• Adaptogens (optional)

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Reduce your stress. You must first treat the cause of high cortisol levels, which is stress. Find a stress-reduction technique that works for you, such as exercise, meditation, attitude changes and breathing techniques.

• 2

  Find time to get plenty of rest. Sleep and relaxation not only reduce your stress levels, but they also lower the amount of adrenaline and "fight-or-flight" response in your body, thus reducing your cortisol levels.

• 3

  Maintain a diet that is low in sugar. Consuming less sugar will stabilize and lower your insulin levels and encourage lower cortisol levels.

• 4

  Take nutritional supplements to lower your cortisol. Take a complete multivitamin every day, Mag-C three times per day, two capsules of advanced essential minerals three times daily, and one capsule each daily of vitamins B5 and B6.

• 5

  Take one to three 100 mg capsules of phosphatidylserine (PS) per day. PS is a nutrient that helps to repair the cortisol receptors in the hypothalamus that control cortisol levels in the body.

• 6

  Consider taking adaptogens, which are herbs that help the body cope with stress. Adaptogens help the hypothalamus to regulate cortisol production.