The endocrine system is a system of complex relationships between hormones, and hormones are all about communication. Hormones transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another. Hormones help to regulate metabolism, energy balance, biological clocks, contractions of smooth and cardiac muscles, immune system functions, control growth and development and govern operation of the reproductive system. The body creates more than 100 hormones that all need to work together to achieve harmony. One of these hormones is cortisol.

Cortisol is our stress hormone, and in today’s society, cortisol is working overtime. Our primitive ancestors needed cortisol for emergencies like a sabre-tooth-tiger attacking or times of war. Today’s “primitive emergencies” that are constantly putting our adrenals in a state of chronic stress, and therefore elevating our cortisol levels, are refined sugar and a high glycemic diet, coffee and other stimulates, alcohol, morning commutes, emotional stress, digestive compromises, nutritional weaknesses and disease or other pathologies. All of these stressors, and our lack of ability to cope, cause an output of cortisol. So why is it so bad to have chronically elevated levels of cortisol?

Chronic elevated cortisol levels disrupt the endocrine system balance in many ways. Adrenal function is a major priority of the body. It is our fight or flight survival response, and is favored over reproduction, metabolic rate and other endocrine functions. When the body is in a state of chronic stress, and the adrenals are working overtime, the adrenals begin to “steal” nutrients and hormonal precursors from other parts of the endocrine system. This leads to low DHEA and low progesterone, abnormal estrogen/progesterone ratios, which feedback to pituitary imbalances. Adrenal fatigue can lead to Low energy, the feeling of dragging yourself through the day, fatigue that is not relieved by sleep, trouble sleeping, anxiety and depression, decreased libido, brain-fog, and poor memory and concentration.

Elevated cortisol levels also affect the liver. The liver is responsible for deactivating hormones that are in excess or no longer function. These hormones need to be broken down, conjugated and removed from the body. Elevated cortisol levels decrease the liver’s ability to detoxify by decreasing the effectiveness of the liver pathways that preform the conjugation.

In addition to the liver and the adrenals, the pancreas is also affected by chronic elevated cortisol levels. When cortisol levels are constantly elevated, insulin receptors on cells do not respond properly to insulin. This puts a strain on the pancreas to secrete more insulin in order to transport glucose into the cells. In turn, this leads to high insulin levels and all the adverse impacts that come along with it; Insulin resistance and effect the body’s ability to control blood sugar.  When cortisol is high, our body does not effectively read the message from insulin to lower blood sugar.  High blood sugar, as we know, can lead to several serious health conditions, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity, which then contributes to estrogen dominance and altered fatty acid metabolism.

So, how can we manage high cortisol levels and keep the Endocrine System in check?  By finding ways to reduce the stress in our everyday life. Getting enough sleep at night, most people need 8 hours. Changing dietary factors can helps reduce the stressors on our organs and reducing common inflammatory items that create stress for the body’s organs, such as alcohol, caffeine, sugar, processed food, refined grains, and hydrogenated oils. Managing work life stressors is a hard one, but trying to maintain reasonable hours in a job that you enjoy. Our relationships with the people around us has a significant impact on the stressors in our life.  Removing or limiting time spent with the people in your life that cause stress, if possible, and nurturing the relationships that give you energy and joy. Finding “you” time to rebalance your mindset. Things like meditation, yoga, reading, or anything else that’s lets you disconnect with the busy world and reconnect to you. We can’t control all the stressors in life, but we can limit and reduce some of them.