A Guide To Cortisol Testing For Weight Loss

26 Feb A Guide To Cortisol Testing For Weight Loss

Posted at 05:51h in Weight Loss by

Cortisol testing is one of the tests we regularly offer our clients, as dysregulation can lead to a host of issues, including weight loss resistance. Here’s everything you need to know about cortisol testing for weight loss. 

Want to find out more and organise a test? Contact our clinic today.

WHAT IS CORTISOL?

Cortisol is a hormone that plays a key role in the body’s stress response as well as various other physiological processes. It’s often referred to as the “stress hormone” because levels typically increase in response to stress, be it physical or psychological. It’s produced by the adrenal glands which are situated on top of the kidneys.

In addition to regulating the body’s stress response, cortisol also plays an important role in regulating metabolism and energy production. It helps to regulate blood pressure, our circadian rhythm (body clock) and it plays a key role in immune system health. 

DO WE NEED CORTISOL?

Yes! Cortisol is often spoken about in a negative context due to elevated output as a result of stressful lifestyles. However, cortisol is essential and it plays many important roles in the body. The key is to ensure it’s regulated with optimal amounts secreted at the right times of the day and under the right conditions. 

WHAT DOES DYSFUNCTIONAL CORTISOL PRODUCTION LOOK LIKE?

Many people would benefit from getting their cortisol levels tested. When it comes to the ‘stress hormone’, a variety of dysfunctional patterns can occur, from abnormally elevated cortisol, to abnormally low levels. We often see dysregulated patterns in cortisol production where there is too much or too little at a given time of day. For example, cortisol may be low in the morning when we need higher levels to get us up and going. This can result in a sluggish start to the day and feeling the need for caffeine to start our day. It can also be higher in the evenings than it should be, which can prevent us from falling asleep. These individuals often report feeling ‘tired but wired’. 

HOW CAN CORTISOL AFFECT WEIGHT?

Studies show that cortisol can significantly impact weight in several ways. Elevated cortisol levels can increase appetite, and particularly a desire for high-calorie comfort foods. It also promotes fat storage, especially abdominal ‘belly’ fat. Cortisol can also slow metabolism and decrease muscle mass, reducing calorie burn. Chronically high cortisol levels disrupt hunger hormones, leading to overeating and poor appetite regulation. These combined effects can lead to weight gain, meaning that prolonged high cortisol levels are a risk-factor for obesity and weight loss resistance.

Read our guide to overcoming stress eating. 

DO YOU NEED A CORTISOL TEST?

Signs that it’s worth considering cortisol testing include feeling regularly stressed or anxious, tired despite getting a lot of sleep, an inability to switch off and relax, weight loss resistance, feeling out of control of your emotions (eg. getting upset or angry often), feeling overwhelmed or like life is more than you’re able to handle. 

IBS symptoms can also be triggered by stress, though it’s not the case for everyone and it’s also worth ruling out any underlying issues with the gut such as parasites or bacterial imbalances. Everyone is different, so it’s worth developing an awareness of how stress expresses itself for you personally. 

HOW DO YOU TEST YOUR CORTISOL LEVELS?

Measuring cortisol levels can be done through blood, saliva and urine tests. Blood tests typically look at levels of cortisol first thing in the morning as this can give an indication of baseline cortisol levels. However it can be the case that cortisol levels are adequate in the morning yet not optimal at later times in the day. This is why we most often recommend salivary cortisol tests that look at levels of cortisol at five specific times throughout the day. Saliva tests can be done at home making it easier to take multiple samples throughout the course of the day. 

Read more about the cortisol test that we offer our clients here. 

WHAT MAY BE CAUSING CORTISOL IMBALANCE?

There are three common causes of cortisol imbalance.

Prolonged psychological stress: this could be caused by an unhappy relationship, work stress, other health issues, or living out of alignment with your core values. 

Excessive exercise: while moderate amounts of exercise has many health benefits, too much can put excessive strain on the body. Overtraining for an extended period can result in adrenal depletion. 

Chronic sleep disorders: long term insufficient sleep can have a very negative impact on the body and can lead to adrenal fatigue. 

CAN YOU REBALANCE YOUR CORTISOL?

Addressing the root cause of your stress is key. If there’s a cause like an unhappy relationship, stress at work or something else, addressing the situation or speaking to a good therapist can really help. 

Supplements can also be helpful. Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola have been shown in clinical trials to help reduce cortisol in those with elevated levels. Magnesium is a smooth muscle relaxant that can be taken before bed to help the body wind down.  

We advise our clients to find a daily stress reduction practice that suits them. It may be a 15-20 minute meditation or yoga practice. It could be a breathing practice like alternate nostril breathing which helps to regulate the nervous system. Taking a walk in nature has also been shown to help reduce stress. 

Getting an optimal amount of good quality sleep and not over-training are also key. 

Read our guide to supplements that can help with stress here. 

WORK WITH US 

We are a team of qualified nutritionists who specialise in weight loss. We work with clients whose chronic stress has been impacting all areas of their life, including their weight, and help them to overcome their challenges to optimise their health and weight. If you think you could benefit from cortisol testing, we can arrange that for you.

Contact us to find out more about adrenal stress testing. Alternatively, you can use this link to book in for a complimentary call. This is an opportunity to talk through your challenges with a member of our team and decide together whether one of our Intelligent Weight Loss programmes is right for you. Contact us to request a copy of our brochure and we will get back to you soon.

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LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

JULIE GOUGH


Julie Gough is a BANT registered nutritionist and certified health coach specialising in weight loss and hormonal health. She works with clients to address issues such as PMS, thyroid disorders, weight gain, and menopause symptoms. 


Drawing from her own health journey, Julie provides personalised nutrition advice combined with mindset coaching. She takes a functional medicine ‘root cause’ approach to helping clients overcome their health and weight challenges. 


Julie is passionate about empowering women to take control of their health and regain their energy and wellbeing long term.


To enquire about working with Julie, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

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