🌡️ So… What Is Cortisol?

Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone. Produced by the adrenal glands, it plays a crucial role in your fight-or-flight response. In small doses, cortisol is incredibly helpful. It:

• Wakes you up in the morning

• Regulates metabolism

• Helps manage inflammation

• Gives you a quick energy boost in times of stress

  
  

But when cortisol stays elevated for too long — thanks to chronic stress, poor sleep, high caffeine intake, or overexercising — it can cause issues like:

• Trouble sleeping

• Anxiety and irritability

• Weight gain (especially around the belly)

• Hormonal imbalance

• Fatigue and burnout

🧼 What Is a “Cortisol Detox”?

Let’s be clear: you can’t detox cortisol out of your body like you would with a liver cleanse (which, by the way, your liver is already handling pretty well on its own). What people are calling a “cortisol detox” is really a reset a way of calming your nervous system and giving your body a break from its constant state of stress.

In other words, it’s less about eliminating cortisol and more about lowering it to healthy levels.

🛠️ How to Do a Cortisol Detox – Simply

You don’t need to spend hundreds on supplements or go live in a yurt. A cortisol detox is about small, consistent changes that shift your body out of "fight-or-flight" and into "rest-and-digest."

Here’s how to start:

1. Balance Your Blood Sugar

High sugar spikes = high cortisol.

✅ Eat regular meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats.

✅ Ditch the sugary breakfast think eggs, oats, or a smoothie with protein.

2. Lower Stimulants (Sorry, Coffee Lovers)

Caffeine triggers cortisol, especially on an empty stomach.

✅ Try to limit to one coffee after breakfast, or switch to herbal teas.

3. Breathe, Move, Sleep

✅ Deep nasal breathing (in for 4, out for 6) calms the nervous system.

✅ Gentle exercise like walking or yoga is better than intense HIIT when you're stressed.

✅ Prioritise sleep, it’s when your cortisol levels naturally reset.

4. Digital Detox & Boundaries

Constant notifications, doomscrolling, and overcommitting spike your stress response.

✅ Set screen curfews.

✅ Say “no” more often.

✅ Take real breaks.

💫 What Are the Benefits?

People who commit to lowering their cortisol often report:

• Better sleep

• More energy during the day

• Reduced anxiety or brain fog

• Easier weight management

• Balanced hormones and better moods

• Feeling more resilient and in control

  
  

Final Thoughts

Cortisol isn’t the enemy, it’s just doing its job. But in a go-go-go world, our stress response can get stuck in the “on” position. A cortisol detox isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about slowing down, tuning in, and supporting your body so it can thrive.

Think of it less like a detox, and more like a reset. Your body (and mind) will thank you. 🌿