Insulin Resistance and the Cortisol Connection

Confused about Cortisol and the Insulin Resistance Connection? Many people are until they realize there's a link between insulin levels and cortisol. They rise and fall in unison. When insulin levels rise, so do cortisol levels. When cortisol levels rise, so does insulin. So as your insulin and cortisol levels rise, it puts stress on your body  -  and when your body is stressed it produces more cortisol  .  .  .


You see, insulin is sometimes referred to as the storage hormone.  It's responsible for keeping your blood sugar levels within a normal range.  It also functions to store fat in your cells, to store sugar in your liver, and to influence amino acids used for muscle building.


But when you're under stress, you need your energy ready to use. (That's part of the flight or fight in a human's makeup.)  So your body produces cortisol (your body's stress survival hormone). Cortisol commands your body to keep energy (sugar) circulating in the blood rather than storing it in the cells by directing your body to ignore insulin's direction to store the sugar and instead to make sugar, fat, and amino acids available for conversion into energy.

So as amino acids are pulled from your muscles to produce energy, your muscle mass begins to decrease and your metabolism slows.  At that point, cortisol has essentially directed your cells to be insulin-resistant.

So cortisol has directed your cells to resist insulin, and keep the sugars circulating, and your body keeps putting out more and more insulin, trying to get the blood sugar levels down. But all this insulin has of course, increased the cortisol level. The vicious cycle continues.


Then, in an attempt to use the insulin in your blood, your body sends the signal its hungry. And you're not just hungry; you're hungry for carbohydrates - sugar.  If you follow your instincts and eat carbohydrates, your body will secrete more insulin and more cortisol. And the cycle goes on and on.


So to reduce your insulin resistance you must first reduce your cortisol level.  Here are some suggestions to help you naturally reduce your cortisol levels:

Foods to Avoid Any food you are allergic to - even a slight allergy will increase stress on the body and increase cortisol. High-glycemic starches and sugars - these would raise insulin levels and so would also raise cortisol. Beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages Caffeinated foods, such as chocolate Herbal stimulants, such as bitter orange or ephedra.

Steps to Reduce Your Cortisol Levels Take Vitamin C, shown to reduce cortisol levels, 1 to 2 grams daily. Take half in the morning and half in the evening. Take Cod Liver Oil (1 Tablespoon Daily) to balance blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance. (Cod Liver Oil makes cell walls more penetrable by insulin and other nutrients.) Reduce Carbohydrate and Caffeine intake Exercise to use excess glucose and relieve stress Go to bed earlier - more rest will reduce stress, and lower cortisol levels.