Cortisol Belly and Cortisol Face: Is That Fr Fr?

The Deets

Okay, fam, let's get into it. Cortisol is like, your body's main hype man when things get stressful. Your adrenal glands are poppin' it out, and it's supposed to help with everything from your immune system to turning glucose into energy. It even tries to keep your sleep schedule on fleek. Cortisol is supposed to spike when you're stressed or first wake up, then chill as the day ends.

But here's the tea: If you're constantly stressed, your cortisol levels can stay sky high. And that's when the drama starts. People are low-key panicking, searching for "cortisol trigger foods" and "detoxes," which is kinda sus according to some experts. They're like, "Hold up, is this even legit?"

Too much cortisol can lead to some serious conditions, like Cushing syndrome, which is rare but causes a fatty hump between your shoulders, a moon face, and stretch marks. On the flip side, not enough cortisol gives you adrenal insufficiency, which is a whole other level of not-okay, causing low blood pressure, nausea, and weight loss.

Now, about this "cortisol belly" and "cortisol face" thing. It’s real, but most of you aren't really experiencing it. It’s most often seen in patients with the disease, Cushing’s. The stress and high cortisol from daily life doesn't cause high cortisol levels like Cushing's disease. Your fat distribution is a mix of genetics, diet, sleep, exercise and hormones. So, maybe start thinking about those things.

So, how do we keep cortisol from acting up? Some say omega-3 supplements and ashwagandha might help chill you out, but the receipts aren't all there yet (IYKYK). Real talk, try managing your stress, getting enough sleep, hitting the gym, eating your veggies, and just vibing with some relaxation. If you're feeling off, slide into your doctor's DMs (or, you know, book an appointment).