How To Lower Cortisol With Supplements

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine condition that causes hormone imbalances in 10% of women in the USA alone. One hormone that is significantly affected by PCOS is cortisol, which is super important for regulating many of our body’s functions. 

Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone,” is produced in the adrenal glands and plays a large role in blood sugar regulation, inflammation control, energy production and usage, blood circulation, and the fight-or-flight response. Yes, it’s a big deal!

Women with PCOS often experience high cortisol levels. This is mostly due to the root issues of PCOS, such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and, of course, hormonal imbalances. When Cysters have elevated cortisol levels for an extended period, it can lead to long-term health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, and immune system suppression. Plus, chronically high stress levels can trigger anxiety, depression, and weight gain. 

Luckily for us, there are simple lifestyle changes and daily supplements Cysters can take to keep cortisol levels in a normal and healthy range. That’s why I’m dedicating this blog post to discussing how to lower cortisol levels with supplements and which ones you might want to try.  

How To Lower Cortisol With Supplements

Living with PCOS isn’t always walk in the park, right? Not only do Cysters have the chemical aspect of hormone imbalance working against them, but all the comorbidities of PCOS can add to your stress. It’s best you know exactly where these elevated stress levels are coming from so you can find solutions that actually help you target them and relieve your symptoms. You deserve peace, and it’s possible to get there!

What Causes High Cortisol In Women With PCOS?

Insulin Resistance

PCOS often comes with insulin resistance, which is when the body doesn’t convert glucose to energy, but instead the sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream and stored as fat. This leads to fatigue, weight gain, and high blood sugar. But, how does this relate to elevated cortisol levels? 

When the body has trouble processing glucose, it interprets this as an “emergency situation,” which can cause the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. Stress in the body is meant to keep us alert and alive when bad things are happening from an evolutionary perspective . . . now in the 21st century we don’t have to worry about running from wild animals anymore, but our body still goes to alert mode in response to certain triggers!

Hyperandrogenism

Since PCOS is an endocrine condition, it can cause hyperandrogenism, which means an increase in testosterone levels. These elevated male hormone levels interfere with how the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates stress responses and cortisol production. So, this can lead to higher cortisol levels, too! 

Sleep Disturbances

Many Cysters may experience poor sleep quality due to their PCOS. Good sleep is key to a healthy lifestyle for a lot of reasons, but mostly because important hormone regulation happens while you sleep! So, irregular sleep patterns can actually disrupt the natural daily rhythm of cortisol, keeping them elevated all the time!

11beta-HSD 1

Studies show that women with PCOS could naturally produce more cortisol than women without the condition. This is due to the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid aminotransferase type 1. Simply put, Cysters just have a natural baseline that produces more stress hormones if left unmanaged. 

PCOS Comorbidities

I’ve discussed a lot of the internal, biological problems with cortisol levels . . . living with PCOS can be really hard. Stress management can feel impossible when it feels like you’re at war with your body! But there is hope, Cysters, and we’ll help you find what works best for your PCOS journey.

What Happens When You Have High Cortisol Levels?

When you have high cortisol levels, your body, as a response to stress, will experience symptoms of stress over time. 

If you have high cortisol, you could experience some of the following symptoms:

• High blood pressure
• Increased blood sugar levels
• Reduced bone density
• Metabolic syndrome
• Immune system suppression
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Digestive issues
• Infertility
• Irregular periods
• Acne
• Easy skin bruising
• Chronic fatigue
• Increased appetite
• Poor sleep quality
• Increased stomach acid
• Irritability and mood swings

How To Lower Cortisol Levels With Supplements

While there are lifestyle changes you can practice to reduce stress, such as avoiding stressful situations or learning stress management when faced with them, supplements can give your body the help it needs to manage high cortisol levels. (For more on managing cortisol through lifestyle changes, listen to this episode of A Cyster and Her Mister.)  

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are excellent supplements to take regardless of whether you have PCOS or high cortisol levels. Found in fish oil, these fatty acids help reduce inflammation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since Cysters experience chronic inflammation, reducing it can have positive effects in many areas. It can help reduce those “emergency signals” your body may be giving off due to the inflammation and other internal issues! 

You can take omega-3 supplements in the morning or evening, whichever fits with your schedule. Make sure to take this supplement with food, preferably a meal that contains natural fats to increase absorption. 

Since omega-3 is so effective in improving PCOS symptoms, I’ve made sure to include it as one of the essential supplements in the Metabolism Plus Supplement Bundle for women with PCOS!

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea is a natural root with incredible health benefits. It is an adaptogenic herb that may help lower cortisol levels by regulating the body’s stress response. You may experience reduced feelings of stress and fatigue with this natural supplement.  

This supplement is best taken on an empty stomach in the morning. Just half an hour before breakfast could set you up for a successful day! 

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is another adaptogenic herb that could be a powerful supplement to reduce high cortisol levels in women with PCOS. It works by reducing activity in the HPA axis, leading to less intense stress responses, such as anxiety. 

It’s recommended to take ashwagandha for no more than three months at a time. Some people take it at night, while others take it in the morning and evening. Talk to your medical professional before adding ashwagandha to your supplement regimen, as it could interfere with other medications. 

Magnesium

More than half of the population doesn’t get the required amount of magnesium. It’s an especially helpful mineral for Cysters who want to regulate their cortisol levels. Magnesium can improve the regulation of the HPA axis and reduce the body’s stress response, leading to lower cortisol levels. It can help with sleep, too!

When taking magnesium for PCOS, make sure to take it with food in the morning. You don’t want to ruin your day with an upset stomach!

Another note of good news, magnesium can also improve prolactin levels in PCOS! You can find magnesium in the Ovafit MetaMulti supplement!

L-Theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves and is known for promoting calmness and relaxation. This reduced perception of stress, especially in stressful situations, could lead to lower cortisol levels and reduced stress response. 

You can experience the benefits of L-theanine when you take it right before bed. Make sure you don’t pair it with any caffeine, so you get the full effect. 

Ovasitol

For women with PCOS looking for a supplement that addresses root issues that cause high cortisol levels, then Ovasitol could be your answer. Taking Ovasitol daily could improve insulin levels and androgen levels like testosterone, which both lead to increased cortisol levels. When you look deeper at what is causing spiked cortisol levels, you may find yourself targeting other symptoms which means also feeling better in other areas of your health! 

Manage stress levels and start to enjoy life again by lowering cortisol levels. 

Living in a constant fight-or-flight stage due to high cortisol levels from PCOS is exhausting not just mentally, but physically too. Stress has profound effects on your body and health. 

The good news is that there are natural supplements Cysters can take to lower cortisol levels to get out of this constant feeling of being stressed! 

A combination of Ovasitol and my Metabolism Plus bundle can give you the head start you need to lower your cortisol levels to reduce fatigue and feelings of anxiety while improving your general long-term health.