It’s time to HIIT back on cortisol myths and misunderstandings
“Don’t do HIIT, it increases cortisol!” “Don’t have too much caffeine, it increases cortisol!” “If you have a “stress belly” your cortisol levels are too high!” I see post after post on the “evils'' of cortisol for midlife and menopausal women. But honestly, when you scratch beneath the surface, most are aimed at scaring women into buying supplements or tests to reduce cortisol and “balance our hormones”.
It’s time to have a serious talk about stress and its related hormone, cortisol, which contrary to this popular (and I’d argue predatory) narrative is absolutely necessary, and is not an evil danger that threatens to impede our health and longevity, or should prevent us from doing anything more strenuous than going for a walk. Ready for Action?
