lowering cortisol levels

IH
I've been on Sensoril for around 3 months I got my Cortisol retest back and showed levels high around early afternoon and early evening. The first test showed my levels were high from morning to bedtime. Should I stay on Sensoril or try something else? Thanks

chapat wrote:IH
I've been on Sensoril for around 3 months I got my Cortisol retest back and showed levels high around early afternoon and early evening. The first test showed my levels were high from morning to bedtime. Should I stay on Sensoril or try something else? Thanks

First things first, think about getting a spectracell test to see WHY you have high cortisol. Could be from lack of specific b-vits, like B5 or Vitamin C.

Find a Clinician in your area at http://www.spectracell.com/lab/FIA_testing.html , best test/money I've spent in this whole process.

Second, find out what in your life is a stressor and get rid of it. Take walks, do breathing exercises.

For immediate (expensive) relief, go for PS (phosphatidylserine) it lowers your cortisol by quite some bit. Other cortisol lowering supps are as you mentioned ashwagandha and Rhodiola which i have no experience with.

GOOD LUCK.

Forgot to add that Magnesium specifically orotate, helps with cortisol (and insulin)

Chapat - I second Joejoebaggins, couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks guys
Joejoe is Phosphatidylserine something you take everyday or just when you feel anxious and how much a day?

CausticSymmetry wrote:Chapat - I second Joejoebaggins, couldn't have said it better myself.

I learn from the master.

Chapat,

The reason I know it works so effectively is it knocks me out cold at night. Just like you I had elevated morning and evening cortisol.

joejoe, have you noticed any differences in hair since you have your cortisol in control?

I know that on paper, it would be good for hair. but in real life, where it counts.. have you noticed anything.

halfempty wrote:joejoe, have you noticed any differences in hair since you have your cortisol in control?

I have noticed that my hair is less dry and falls out a lot less. The biggest difference for me was the feeling of INTENSE anxiety is no longer with me, and I actually sleep at night now. Once I got my cortisol down my friends and family also noticed a differerence because I wasn't fighting with them all the time :p

Hey Joejoe,

I definitely have that intense anxiety with me most of the time. It is awful. I know that it is accelerating my hair loss.

I found this test that I can order here:
[url= http://www.homehealthtesting.com/stress-hormone-tests.htm]here[/url]

Immortal said it may give some insight.

Basically I do not have a lot of money to spend on medical tests.

Do you think that this would be worth the 80 bucks?

Then, if it does tell me that I have high/low cortisol I could do a more expensive test in the future.

What do you think?

Also, did you notice any changes in inflammation after you got your cortisol levels figured out?

halfempty wrote:Hey Joejoe,

I definitely have that intense anxiety with me most of the time. It is awful. I know that it is accelerating my hair loss.

I found this test that I can order here:
[url= http://www.homehealthtesting.com/stress-hormone-tests.htm]here[/url]

Immortal said it may give some insight.

Basically I do not have a lot of money to spend on medical tests.

Do you think that this would be worth the 80 bucks?

Then, if it does tell me that I have high/low cortisol I could do a more expensive test in the future.

What do you think?

Also, did you notice any changes in inflammation after you got your cortisol levels figured out?

I can only speak about my experience, but It's not that helpful to see that you have high/low cortisol at a certain time of the day. It's more helpful to know if your Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, or magnesium is in the toilet causing the high cortisol. If you deal or have experienced any extreme stress it might be worthwhile to invest in the spectra cell test.

I think the most effecient way of dealing with stress and hair loss in general is truly finding out whats going on inside of you. I tried the shotgun supps method in the beginning and I think I just set myself back.

halfempty wrote:
Also, did you notice any changes in inflammation after you got your cortisol levels figured out?

I need to presage this by saying i don't have everything figured out and my hair is not 100%

but, I've learned a lot and would have to say that the biggest benefit I've seen is correct my totally fucked up methylation cycle. The results were very obvious after a few days. Still working on all the kinks.

Supps that helped: SAMe, TMG, Taurine, B6 (P5P), Folonic Acid, B12 (Methyl & Hydroxycobalamin)

Thanks a lot for taking the time to respond Joejoe.

I will hopefully be able to invest in this in the future.

I do know that ashwagandha definitely helps my anxiety and concentration.

I find it astonishing that psychiatrists do not have people tested for high/low cortisol.

Sadly, psychiatry is based on a description of characteristics, using what is called a DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

There is no testing, but I'm absolutely convinced that all psychiatric disorders are real physical problems that can be remedied.

For example, most depression is adrenal fatigue, most anxiety is related similarly.

Schizophrenia is vitamin D (lack of) related and is often caused by toxoplasmosis, which is remedied by Photoluminescence (an indirect way to get high blood levels of vitamin D).

And there's good old fashion stress. Sometimes I joke the best way to cure stress is to quit your job--if it were not a problem of a lack of money, would be great.

CausticSymmetry wrote:Sadly, psychiatry is based on a description of characteristics, using what is called a DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

There is no testing, but I'm absolutely convinced that all psychiatric disorders are real physical problems that can be remedied.

For example, most depression is adrenal fatigue, most anxiety is related similarly.

Schizophrenia is vitamin D (lack of) related and is often caused by toxoplasmosis, which is remedied by Photoluminescence (an indirect way to get high blood levels of vitamin D).

And there's good old fashion stress. Sometimes I joke the best way to cure stress is to quit your job--if it were not a problem of a lack of money, would be great.

I think you're right on the money IH.

But wouldn't the DSM be useful in being able to tell if someone is exhibiting characteristics of having an anxiety disorder? Then when diagnosed, the underlying physical problems can be addressed.

Psychiatrists are made the most from pharmaceutical companies in terms of incentives compared to other medical fields, the last I had heard, they receive an average of 40 to 45K in compensation per year just from incentives alone.

The solution for most using this criteria is what medications should be prescribed, but I see what you mean, I could be used for a the purpose of categorizing the problem. If they were to have tests, it would really help. It seems inescapable
physical impact after bouts of chronic stress for example.

Can someone help me out I always thought that exercising at least 1/2 hour a day will lower cortisol levels, now I read in a bodybuilding mag that excessive exercising will raise cortisol levels. I do cardio for 10 minuets to warm up, then I lift for about 45 minutes then I do more intense cardio for 20 minutes. Is that work out routine OK.

Chap--

This was a good reason that Patrick Arnold came out with 11-OXO, to compensate for raised cortisol levels in bodybuilders. Bodybuilding is very strenuous on the body, and physical duress is another way to get a cortisol release. This isn't always a bad thing as you do need cortisol, but this may result in too much as well. I say that 45-minutes is good enough for the gym, unless of course you're chatting it up and not going balls-against-the-wall for that 45-minutes. It's also idea to go 45 minutes in that you won't be letting your body get to a catabolic state when it is depraved of nutrients that it needs to rebuild the muscle immediately.

Thanks Nidhogge
Another thing I heard is its best to do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach for best fat loss, just want to hear what you think.

Chap--

I was an early student of HIIT on an empty stomach, something that I started (and have gone on-and-off with) a few years ago. 4 years EXACTLY to be precise. Shawn Philips' book "ABSolutions" (or maybe it's "ABSolution") is what introduced me to the concept. I highly recommend that book, though he does have a new book that I believe is entitled "Strength for Life." His brother, Bill, came out with the book "Body for Life" which is very similar to ABsolutions. Bill was the co-founder of supplement giant "EAS." Both are in incredibly awesome shape, and all-natural.

Essentially, this is the key thing--do not do cardio on an empty stomach if you intend to jog up a storm for an hour. This will be counter-productive as you will be burning the most fat being that you're working off of your fat reserves and not your last meal's carbs, but you will throw yourself into a catabolic state. Think about it--you went 6-8 hours eating and drinking nothing, and now all you're running off of if some pre-cardio water. So, this is where the HIIT (High-Intensity Training, or "Interval" training) comes into play.

Pick out about 50 yards, and jog. Then, sprint 50 yards. Jog 50 yards, sprint 50 yards. This concept can be applied to ANYTHING. If you have a boxing bag, just work it for about 30 seconds, then go nuts on it for 30 seconds, ad nauseum (Nauseous being the keyword, lol...). Jump-roping--same deal. You'll only be able to keep this up for a few minutes, and you ought to do this no more than 3 days a week, and preferably on non-workout days as it will diminish your glucose for the day. I usually do it Saturday and Sunday since I go to bed late and get to work an hour late every day...lol. Gotta work on that.

Coupled with a good diet, you will be amazed at how fast you get that 6-pack out. That 10 minutes of HIIT, btw, is also far more superior to one hour+ of jogging at a specific pace. The reasoning? Your body never gets used to it. Since you sprint as hard as you can, you only get faster as time goes by. With jogging, your body adjusts to the pace, and you get less and less of a result from it. The confusion that HIIT caused to your body also spikes your metabolism by 30% for the next few hours. So, you'll be burning calories just sitting on your ass afterwards.

Good luck, and enjoy the pain! It'll also greatly enhance your bb workouts.

Thanks Nidhogge your the man!
So you can do the HIIT about an hour after eating and I should burn as much fat as an hour jogging. I have an Elliptical machine at home can I do the HIIT on that?

Hi All

Here is some research

A YOGA INTERVENTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH ELEVATED SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Alison Woolery, Hector Myers, Beth Sternlieb, Lonnie Zeltzer. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Aliso Viejo: Mar/Apr 2004. Vol. 10, Iss. 2; pg. 60, 4 pgs

"In conclusion, this randomized pilot study indicates that participating in a short-term Iyengar yoga course may have therapeutic benefits for people experiencing mild levels of depression. These benefits include reductions in depression and anxiety, improved acute mood, and possible modulation of cortisol, Future research should seek to replicate and extend these findings while addressing the limitations of this pilot study."

Moderating one's self is the answer. Getting blood circulation in the scalp is only one good thing about body movement therapies. I'm not a believer in yoga per se, but there's a lot of obvious improvements in some of the ideas. Adapt and overcome.

Cheers
Lux

Oh, ps, if I'm feeling a little down, I do a forward bend for a bit (mild inversion). Making sure I have the right food in my blood helps.

Cheers
Lux