{"id":210489,"date":"2025-06-24T13:37:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/210489\/"},"modified":"2025-06-24T13:37:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:37:13","slug":"considering-a-cortisol-detox-read-this-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/210489\/","title":{"rendered":"Considering A Cortisol Detox? Read This First"},"content":{"rendered":"

One thing Relf notes is that people with PCOS<\/a> (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) are more likely to experience higher levels of cortisol than those without. \u201cElevated cortisol has been found to worsen PCOS symptoms, which impacts insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Does the body naturally clear excess cortisol?<\/p>\n

Yes, but only in the right conditions. \u201cThe body is designed to regulate cortisol levels through natural feedback loops,\u201d Osagie-Clouard explains. \u201cGiven the right signals \u2013\u00a0restful sleep, nourishing food, and a calm nervous system<\/a> \u2013 cortisol levels will recalibrate by the liver metabolising and excreting excess cortisol. However, this process can be hindered by chronic stress, poor diet, and lack of proper recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to detox cortisol<\/p>\n

1. Cut back on caffeine<\/p>\n

The frustrating thing about excess cortisol is that it creates a \u201cwired but tired\u201d feeling, and can have you reaching for the coffee pot more than usual. This creates a self-sustaining cycle of fatigue, caffeine, stress, and more fatigue.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoffee<\/a> is a stimulant which will raise cortisol levels,\u201d explains Relf. \u201cThis isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing, however, if we consume it too often and in too large quantities, then it can cause consistently elevated cortisol levels. This can have a knock-on effect on other hormones, creating greater imbalances.\u201d That said, you don\u2019t need to cut it out entirely. Cutting back will have a marked positive effect, as will waiting to drink caffeine<\/a> until after you\u2019ve eaten breakfast. And there are always caffeine alternatives<\/a> to explore.<\/p>\n

2. Incorporate breathwork<\/p>\n

\u201cBreathwork<\/a> activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which can counteract cortisol spikes,\u201d says Dr. Osagie-Clouard. Similarly, practising mindfulness can help to lower the perception of stress, which can shift you from a reactionary state to a responsive one. To get started with breathwork, start by extending your exhale to be longer than your inhale. Or, there\u2019s the \u201cparasympathetic sigh,\u201d which can help facilitate feelings of calm quickly. To do it, breathe in, then take a second sip of air just before you slowly exhale.<\/p>\n

3. Move more<\/p>\n

Regular exercise is recommended for almost everyone. The trick with excess cortisol, though, is to make sure the type of exercise you choose doesn\u2019t stress your body out more. \u201cGentle, consistent activity\u2014like walking<\/a>, yoga<\/a>, Pilates,<\/a> or strength training<\/a>\u2014regulates stress hormones better than high-intensity exercise and overtraining,\u201d says Dr. Osagie-Clouard. So, don\u2019t assume you need to spend hours in the gym. \u201cExercise has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and improve insulin sensitivity, which is key in the management of PCOS,\u201d says Relf. Forget the idea of a perfect schedule, though. \u201cAny movement is beneficial,\u201d she points out. \u201cSo choose consistency over everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Make sleep a priority<\/p>\n

One of the most important and powerful things you can do for your body is get enough rest, between six and eight hours a night, as consistent, uninterrupted sleep will help to reset cortisol in the body. There has been some recent discussion about women needing more than eight hours during certain periods of their cycle, but this is yet to reach the mainstream. \u201cGive yourself a regular bedtime and establish an evening routine that helps you unwind and relax in the lead up to bedtime,\u201d suggests Relf.<\/p>\n

5. Rethink your nutrition<\/p>\n

Eating in a way that keeps blood sugar stable can help to assuage the stress spikes and troughs associated with excess cortisol. \u201cThink protein, fiber, and healthy fats,\u201d recommends Dr. Osagie-Clouard. There are also cortisol-lowering foods<\/a> to incorporate into your diet. This could look like pairing fruit with yogurt and seeds or nuts. Or, popping some peanut butter on a rice cake. The added fiber and fat will help slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and cause a smaller sugar spike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One thing Relf notes is that people with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) are more likely to experience higher…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":210490,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4317],"tags":[1154,105,218,16,15,2488],"class_list":{"0":"post-210489","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-exercise","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-mental-health","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom","13":"tag-wellness"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210489\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}