We are all in a hurry in life, right? Worries never end whether it is work, family, studies, kids, people asking about marriage plans! This stress build up messes up your body, the main reason is called CORTISOL.
Cortisol is a gate keeper of your body that puts the guards up when it senses trouble. Cortisol is needed to deal with sudden problems. But it becomes a concern when the levels are constantly up and are hindering our sleep, mood and immunity. Cortisol can weaken our immunity as much as strong medications.
There is no need to sit for meditation for too long but simple daily life things can calm things down, all we need to do is boost our dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These are the hormones that make us feel happy and relaxed. So how do we lower the stress hormone and boost the happy hormones? Lets see:
Laughing is Seriously Good Medicine
Do you remember those happy and fun times, making silly jokes with friends or watching funny movie? Having great laughs is fun right! Along with just having fun happy times also lower cortisol. A good laugh reduces stress hormone
Remember those silly jokes you share with your friends? Or that funny movie you watched? Well, laughing isn’t just fun; it actually helps lower cortisol! Dr. Lee Berk, an associate professor at Loma Linda University in California, says that a good laugh reduces stress hormones and even those things that cause swelling in the body. So, don’t hold back, just giggle! Watch a stand-up comedy video, call your old funny friend – it’s all good for you.
Fresh Air and Nature
Staying in the same stressful environment isn’t good for the mood. People sitting for working or leisure for too long feel tired and have mood swings. Connecting with nature will make the mind and body feel better. As the Japanese say: Forest Bathing. A 20 minutes’ walk around the trees, strolling in the neighborhood, watching the trees, plants, birds and strays can make you feel calmer. So get outside, breathe in some fresh air!
Eating Dark Chocolate
Chocolates! Yaaay..!
Doesn’t this word make you cheerful right? Eating dark chocolate boosts the mood, it releases endorphins in our brain resulting in happiness. But it doesn’t mean binge eating but a eating small piece of an ounce or two of around 85% cocoa daily can be consumed. It’s a tasty way to enhance your stress levels.
Stretch it Out!
Yoga is good but in busy times you might not find good amount of time and yoga routine, still simple stretching also helps reduce stress. Stretching your arm, legs can also be impactful. Good posture also lowers stress! Stretching relaxes the tensed muscles and helps lowers the cortisol.
Take a Dip!
Swimming is like a full-body reset button. It is an exercise for your brain, body and mood. An article by NCBI says that swimming can lower good amount of cortisol levels and improve your sleep. Additionally, it is easy on the joints and helps you relax. So, if you have access to a pool, jump in!
These are just a few simple things you can add to your daily routine to help manage stress and lower cortisol.
Remember, taking care of your mental well-being is super important.
Start small, maybe pick one or two of these tips and make them a habit. Slow and steady wins the race to a calmer and happier you!
Resources:
https://www.vogue.com/article/lower-cortisol
https://www.henryford.com/blog/2020/05/how-to-lower-your-cortisol-levels
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7558513
Disclaimer:This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. TheHealthZenith is not offering advice, recommending or endorsing any specific prescription drug, pharmacy or other information on the site. TheHealthZenith provides no warranty for any information. Please seek medical advice before starting, changing or terminating any medical treatment.
