Cortisol is the body's number one countermeasure for inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory cortisol is not the enemy, it's the body's own "cure"! Poisers first overproduce cortisol because it is needed to handle the dangerous inflammation, er else we would die! Noone can live more than a day without cortisol. During the period that cortisol is beeing overproduced there will also be side effects of hight cortisol (excess sebum production, dry skin and acne, increased number of dopamin receptors) but not as much side effects as when cortisol in beeing underproduced, which it inevitable will be after a long time of POIS: The adrenals get exhausted and run out of their important temporary cortisol storage that is needed after orgasm.
Psychological Complaints of Cortisol Deficiency (Particularly frequent and intense in stressful conditions)
Flu-like fatigue
Outbursts of nervousness, anger, fear
Lack of punch
Use of intensely negative words: horrible, terrible, dramatic, disaster, the end of the world, etc.
Poor resistance to stress
Intense dislike of stress
Irritability, aggressiveness, even meanness
Try to avoid stressful situations, jobs, partner
Quarrelsomeness
Accusations, meanness toward others
Physical Complaints of Cortisol Deficiency (Particularly frequent and intense in stressful conditions)
Fatigue-like fatigue with the desire to lie down
Deformed joints
Tensed muscles
Allergies: skin, nose-ear-throat with reddish coloration of inflamed zones, asthma, food allergies
Tachycardia
Intolerance to medications
Palpitations, especially in stressful conditions
Frequent infections: Sore throat, red eyes, ear pain, flu, etc.
Excessive sweating in armpits, on hand palms, and on foot soles
Reduced appetite
Localized pains in structures that are put under pressure, such as the eyes, abdomen, joints, tendons, and muscles
Weight loss in people caused by a low appetite
So we risk to run low of this important homone and when cortisol is low, alla other hormones are too because of the
"cortisol steal" , including testosterone that is suppose to rebuild the damaged tissues. There's no more raw materials left to make hormones when cortisol is low - cortisol takes it all! So we have to lower inflammation and eat food that contains cholesterol, proteins and good fat - the raw materials for all hormones (and get off cholesterol lowering statins drugs). When the body can produce enought cortisol it continues to produce the other hormones as well.
People who are stressed and burned out don't need less cortisol, they need more cortisol. Thats why they become well when they get cortisol supplements. It's the stress that is the cause, not the cortisol. However, when the stress is gone the side effects of hight cortisol are also gone so stopping stress has double benefits. And it's the same for poisers. Lower stress and the
cortisol stores will start to build up again.
But if the intestines are compomised because of long term inflammation we have to heal them first and build up a good flora, or else we cant utiilize the food and nutrition. Thats why it is so important that you check the status of your gut. Do a SIBO test and get on a SIBO protocol!
Source:
Cortisol Deficiency: Frequent, Life-Impairing, and How to Give Patients Their Lives Back By Correcting It
