While it is a popular term these days, for those who are unfamiliar, here is a thought experiment to help you understand what’s meant by a cortisol detox.
Imagine that you are terrified enough to start running from a threat. Lungs heaving and heart pounding, you never dreamed you could run this fast. Your destination: a cave about a quarter mile ahead. You leap over fallen branches and scramble through thorny brush.
When you fall, you spring to your feet again and keep running. Homing in on the cave’s entrance, you shoot through headfirst like a torpedo. The bull elephant that was hot on your trail skids to a stop outside, too large to follow you in.
Anyone who’s outrun a bull elephant probably has the stress hormone, cortisol, to thank. It is part of the body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When our brains sense danger, they activate the HPA, causing our adrenal glands to release cortisol.
Cortisol reroutes energy from where it’s less needed to where it’s needed most. Cortisol also helps us through difficult psychological or emotional experiences. Too much cortisol means that a “cortisol detox” might help restore its normal levels and stop unhealthy effects.
Cortisol boosts energy by triggering the release of blood sugar and manages inflammation to reduce pain and swelling and prevent infections. It “borrows” glucose retained in the liver to prevent low blood sugar and even suppresses our appetites in case we can’t find food for a while.
Stress is part of life, and some stress is good for us. But when it becomes too much — money shortages, family tensions, overstimulation from smart devices, etc. — our brains stop discerning bull elephants from stressful but safe situations, such as making a speech.
When this happens, cortisol imbalances can become chronic, leading to longer-term physical, mental, and emotional health issues.
The list of possible problems related to high cortisol and chronic stress include:
- Anxiety, depression, and irritability
- Blood sugar imbalances, insulin resistance, and fatigue
- Racing thoughts, brain fog, and forgetfulness
- Susceptibility to illnesses, slower healing time, and greater risk of infection
- Weight gain, especially abdominal
We see bullet points like these in healthcare articles all the time, but they often lack explanation. If we remember that cortisol’s job is to take energy from some systems to give to others, it’s easier to see how prolonged cortisol production would lead to problems by depleting some resources and overloading others.
Additional problems may include high blood pressure, muscle weakness, headaches, and salt or sugar cravings. Digestion problems are also possible, and some women with high cortisol report irregular menstrual cycles.
Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) are skilled at addressing these issues. Their mentorship-based care helps patients understand how stress, habits, and other lifestyle features impact their whole-being, but seeing a chiropractor sooner rather than later is important for achieving the best possible outcome.
Cortisol Detox Versus Cortisol Detox Diets
It is a human tendency to embrace unhealthy habits that have long-term consequences, then latch onto fads and quick fixes such as “detox diets” and scam nutritional supplements to make everything right again.
A cortisol detox can be a healthy choice, but cortisol detox diets and many supplements marketed as a means of cortisol control or elimination are ineffective and possibly harmful. A detox that includes a consistent sleep schedule of seven to nine hours, adequate hydration, and nutrient-, fiber-rich foods is a better option for treating high cortisol and chronic stress. Exercise is important, too, because it can help reduce cortisol, balance blood sugar, and manage stress. However, one should be careful not to overdo it on exercise as too much can increase cortisol.
DCs help re-establish mental, physical, and lifestyle alignment, including identifying exercises that won’t raise cortisol.
If you have questions about cortisol or chronic stress, talk to your DC. If you’re not currently benefitting from chiropractic treatment, consider scheduling a consultation with one soon. Remember, sooner is safer than later.
