5 Signs You Have High Cortisol & How To Lower It Like A Meditating Monk
I get it, stress is your middle name, or maybe it should be and you haven't quite arrived at just how much it is taking over your life! Nonetheless, coffee is your best friend and your schedule is packed. You may have even forgotten what feeling energized really looks like, BUT you "take it like a boss" because you are determined to not let life get the best of you!
Sound familiar?
Well maybe, just maybe this isn't what "normal" is supposed to look like and there is a way to get your life back, but first we need to address the culprit, high cortisol!
Four Sure-Fire Signs That Your Cortisol Levels Are Having A Party:
1. You're not sleeping well
Brain fog through the day, restlessness at night? Our cortisol levels are supposed to drop at night time to allow us to relax and go into deep sleep. When our cortisol does not lower, you may experience tossing and turning throughout the night leaving you a continuation of fatigue for the next day.
2. You seem to be putting on weight
Gaining weight around your abdomen can be an indicator that your cortisol levels are higher than we'd like, especially when you are eating healthy and "doing everything right."
3. Your experiencing digestive upsets
Stress hormones like cortisol can be a real irritant to your digestive system. Nausea, abdominal cramps, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation may be a result of too much cortisol.
4. Increased anxiety and mood swings
Now that we know that high cortisol levels affect our digestive system it is also important to recognize that 90% of your serotonin, your happy neurotransmitter, is produced in the gut. An imbalanced gut = low serotonin = depression, irritability and anxiety.
5. No sex drive
During times of high stress our libido inducing hormones such as testosterone drop and you expect a whole lot of, well... nothing!
Luckily, there are things you can do to help reduce your cortisol and lower the negative impact that stress has on your health. Starting with swapping out that coffee or latte for matcha green tea.
Matcha, as if time released, provides a much more balanced energy than the rush you experience from coffee. Matcha also contains a special amino acid called l-theanine which alters brain waves. Meaning, your matcha latte will increase alpha activity, creating the same brainwaves that monks achieve during meditiation and at less than half the caffeine of a regular coffee, your adrenals will be thanking you for this swap!
Ready to be a meditating monk and hop on the matcha bandwagon? Than give my Matcha Latte a try!
Matcha Latte Love
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 cups nut milk
1 tsp matcha
2 tsp honey
2 tsp coconut oil
7 tbsp hemp hearts
Method:
In a pot, warm nut milk over medium heat, but not to a boil.
Add matcha, honey and coconut oil. Begin to whisk.
Once warmed, transfer to a blender and blend until frothy.
Serve in your favourite mug and enjoy!
