Cortisol is the one hormone that actually increases as we get older.

  We are all familiar with cortisol,

because a derivative called cortisone is used in topical and systemic medications and has been part of
the pharmacological arsenal for years.  Cortisol is essential; it enables our internal systems to maintain
stability and stay in balance during acute forms of stress, such as fear, physical trauma, and extreme
physical exertion.  When it is needed during periods of stress, cortisol is produced by the body in the
quantities necessary to combat stress.  However, a problem arises when cortisol is present for long
periods of time and in excess quantities.  When we measure the cortisol levels of a young person under
stress, they rise rapidly, but within a few hours as the stress is relieved, they decline to normal.  However,
when we measure cortisol levels in older people, the levels rise rapidly during the stress but tend not to
return to normal for days.  Since cortisol levels continue to increase with age, a sixty-five year old has far
higher levels of cortisol circulating throughout their system than does a twenty-five year old.

Large amounts of cortisol are toxic when they circulate in our system for prolonged periods of time.  Our
brain cells, or neurons, are extremely sensitive to the effects of cortisol.  When cortisol is circulating at a
high level, it causes the brain cells to die.  That is why brain shrinkage is associated with senility in old
age.

Excessive amounts of cortisol can destroy the immune system, shrink the brain and other vital organs,
decrease muscle mass, and cause thinning of the skin which results in prominent blood vessels.  In the
anti-aging field, cortisol is known as the death hormone because it is associated with old age and
disease.  So, how can you keep your cortisol under control?

 Get good adequate sleep-six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.
 Minimize stress-whenever possible, avoid stress-inducing situations.
 Cut out coffee!  Coffee contains a number of organic acids that affect blood sugar and cortisol
levels.  This is not due to the caffeine.  For example, you can drink a cup of decaffeinated coffee at
8am and your cortisol levels will still be measurable at 10pm-the same as if you had drunk regular
coffee.

1. Annette Giardino on March 12, 2010 at 7:02 pm said:

So, could you explain a bit more on this coffee and cortisol?? Should we NOT be drinking it when under
stress? And what can you do to minimize the heavy amounts of cortisol in your bloodstream when under
days of stress???

Reply ↓

 tenste on March 3, 2013 at 11:04 am said:

You should not be drinking it all is what he is saying.

Reply ↓

2. Edeet Wimmer Loturco on March 21, 2010 at 9:44 pm said:

Hello…..oh boy there goes my coffee,this was a very informative article.I will be 61 years old in April.All
my life I was tought to take very good care of my Skin.But ever since a Child I had very very very dry
 Skin,and as I am getting older,it is getting worse.I am putting on three Moisturizers on my Skin in the
morning,and the same at night.Also,I feel I am using a good Skin Care System,it is called
BIOELEMENTS.Can you recommend a Regement
from your Line,that would do well for my Skin.
I am German so if I made any mistakes writing this to you,I appoligize.
Thank you EDEET

Reply ↓

 jin on September 10, 2013 at 5:47 am said:

Take omega 3 oil supplements 1 at morning – noon – night

Take vitamin c – 1500mg per day
Take b100 – 1 in the morning

and drink lots of water

your skin will thank you

Reply ↓

3. Grace Colasurdo on May 31, 2010 at 9:46 pm said:

I take hydrocortisone daily due to hypopituitarism and hypoadrenalism. I know I will die without taking this
medication, and frequently need a dose higher than my doctor would like to see me on. The only other
choice of not increasing the dose when needed is to become chair or bedridden due to the fatique, so I
don’t see much of an option. I know Addison’s disease patients who daily steroids needs vary widely-
some get by on HC 10 mg a day, others need 35, and yet others need 10 mg/day of prednisone. If it is
physicologic replacement, why the varying doses-and really, what other choices do we have?

Reply ↓

 tchan on July 12, 2010 at 5:57 pm said:

We recommend you discuss this with your doctor.

Reply ↓

4. Sharon on June 15, 2010 at 11:07 pm said:

An excellent article – thank you! So, besides adequate sleep, reducing stress, and no coffee, what else
can we do to reduce cortisol levels? Is there any type of agent that will counter these levels, such as
minerals or vitamins? (I am thinking StressTabs.) Also, isn’t cortisol the hormone that increases belly fat
and expansion as we age? Another question: Is cortisol associated with high cholesterol levels? I
appreciate any input you could give me on my queries.

Reply ↓

5. Norm on September 12, 2010 at 3:42 pm said:

 Black tea can reduce corisol levels supposedly.

Check out this news article on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5405686.stm

Reply ↓

6. Rami Hanna on December 7, 2010 at 2:21 pm said:

Cortisol becomes detrimental when there is chronic and continuous elevation of it.
Cortisol is a life-sustaining hormone. It is needed for a healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, to fight
inflammation. It is needed for a healthy function of both receptors of thyroid hormones and
catecholamines and for cardiovascular toning.
Low cortisol is more detrimental than elevated cortisol.
Chronic hypocortisolemia, a condition known as Addison, disease was fatal before this hormone was
discovered.
It is human abuse and neglect, eating junk food, bad sleeping, high stress level, pollution, and modern life
style that made cortisol look bad.
Humans have abused their hormones by their own actions.
It is human actions, abuses, and neglects that lead to death! We cannot live without cortisol, not for a
single day.

Reply ↓

7. Dr. Haskell on December 20, 2010 at 3:45 pm said:

High production of cortisol certainly has detrimental effects upon the body.

Yet low levels have their consequences as well. An excellent book on adrenal deficiency written by Dr.
William Jefferies, M.D., called The Safe Uses of Cortisol, is an excellent read for both physicians and the
public.

There is a place for increasing cortisol levels through lifestyle changes and nutrition, and even the use of
small doses of this very important hormone.

Thanks for the article.

Dr. Alexander Haskell

Reply ↓

8. Marcella Birckhead on May 29, 2012 at 2:20 pm said:

What about green tea and flavored green tea?

Thank you for your answer.

 Reply ↓

 ascott on May 31, 2012 at 6:49 pm said:

Hi Marcella. Opt for regular green tea over green tea flavored beverages as they contain little to none of
the health benefits of green tea.

Reply ↓

9. Pingback: Coffee and Stress in the Workplace | Delivering Happiness at Work

10. kenny on March 5, 2013 at 8:38 am said:

Considering this article does not specify where the information was taken from i.e. research papers. This
is speculation at best. The research on this is okay, and needs more for verification

Reply ↓

11. Pingback: Coffee, Saturated Fat and Carnitine -- The Debate | What you need to know about
coffee, saturated fat and carnitine

12. Pingback: Anonymous

13. Pingback: what are the worst foods? - Page 3

14. Pingback: Baby Boomer's Diet | Intermittent Fasting for Boomers

15. Jo on September 12, 2013 at 10:18 am said:

I recently was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, and know that it’s caused by an inflammation in my body. I
am yet to see a functional medicine practitioner, and through my own research found that gluten could be
one cause. So I cut that out. I feel great, but that doesn’t seem to be the cause.
A lot of people jump straight to the conclusion that I must be really stressed, and that’s why the hair is
falling out.
I’ve been taking a close look at what my diet has been like for the last year, and there’s been way too
much coffee. And since that suppresses hunger, I could go a day with only one meal. Even though I’m not
going through anything stressful in my life, could it be that the excess amounts of coffee have spiked my
cortisol levels to the point where the alopecia areata got triggered?

Reply ↓

 ascott on September 30, 2013 at 12:06 pm said:

Perhaps- we suggest checking with your primary care physician.