Stress and Elevated Cortisol Levels

The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the brain are particularly vulnerable to cortisol and these negative effects:

• Elevated cortisol causes a loss of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. Suppressed activity prevents a person from using their best judgment, making the best decisions, and planning for the future because the prefrontal cortex is required for our analytical thinking (problem-solving), emotional control and intelligence, verbal communication, and memory forming abilities.

• Elevated cortisol also kills neurons in the hippocampus and disrupts the creation of new ones. It can weaken short-term memory and prevent a person from forming new memories properly. The hippocampus is part of the limbic system that directs many bodily functions, including emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory.

But that’s not all …

• Impaired healing and cell regeneration

• Disrupted digestion, mental function, and metabolism

• Weakened ability to fight infection

• Imbalances in other important hormones such as DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone

• Hair and skin problems

• Thyroid imbalances

• Low sex drive

• Sleeplessness

• Weight gain (especially around the belly)

• Elevated cortisol will also decrease serotonin, your happy hormone. This can lead to depression, cause more aggressive behavior, and make you feel agitated or angry.

Just like many things in life, we often have to take action to protect what we value. This includes relaxation and calmness, in a world of constant stressors.

Personally, I have found rest in Jesus Christ and spending time in the Word, which includes fighting the good fight of faith vs fear. In the natural, there are many things we can do.

Here a couple of easy things I personally incorporate into my life to support rest vs stress:

1. Eat clean and healthy, versus eating garbage which puts more stress on the body and creates inflammation (often in the gut, which also creates it in the brain). When stressed we often emotionally eat, and reach for sugar and carbs. Read 35 Reasons to Break Up with Sugar

2. Exercise – this takes finding time but will do wonders for your mental state. Get out in nature and take a walk, or one of my favorites, Cellercising.

3. Using specific essential oil blends that support moving the body from the sympathetic (stress state) to the parasympathetic state (rest) by targeting the longest nerve in the body, your vagus nerve, which runs from your brain to your gut and affects all your organs in between. The essential oil blend I use is called, Parasympathetic. In addition, we also use a blend called Adrenal. Simple and easy to use, and you can use these several times a day.

If you have any questions, Contact David.

If you want to learn more about different essential oil blends that target different organs, and health issues, Click Here.

David Cooley
Certified Health Consultant
Author

David spent over 27 years in the mortgage/real estate business. But 33 years ago, God re-directed his life and placed in him a passion for natural health and prevention of disease. Today, David is a certified health consultant, and for the last 33 years has lived a natural food lifestyle and discovered simple, key components for living a lifestyle of health and vitality. One of the early things David realized is that disease was NOT the result of a drug deficiency. And that everything we think, say, and consume or are exposed to in some manner or another either supports our cellular structures or causes them to age faster and breakdown.  

David believes there is nothing more important than to live within God’s blueprint for one’s life. Each of us has been given specific gifts, talents, and purpose that are to be lived out on a foundation of faith in Him and His Word.

“It saddens me to see people suffering, frustrated, or discouraged with life … and fall into the rut of living, unable to reach their full potential: spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. I think it’s also a travesty in this country people that are not educated in personal health care, nor in how to protect their privacy, assets, and often liberties. God has designed us to live amazing lives, and sometimes it just helps to find someone who will come alongside and provide the hope and direction needed at that moment. It’s about bringing together your personal and business aspirations into a balanced vision for your life, aligned with His Word.“

“Bottom line, what balance do you need to bring to your life, what type of life do you desire to create that enables you to be all you can be and live a life with no regret – a life that produces a faithful servant?”

To learn more about David, go to Image What Could Be.

Information and material found on this website are for informational purposes only, and not intended to provide medical or legal advice, nor should it be construed as such. In regards to any health information, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professionals, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information provided on this site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information available on this site is for general informational, entertainment and educational purposes only. Products, or information, are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professionals before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, beginning any diet program or exercise program, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this website. The author of this site is not responsible for any adverse effects that may occur from the application of the information on this site and encourages you to make your own healthcare decisions, based on your own research and in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.