{"id":28658,"date":"2021-10-22T23:33:37","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T23:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=28658"},"modified":"2025-03-12T22:24:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T22:24:14","slug":"how-to-lower-cortisol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#How_Can_Stress_Manifest_in_the_Body\" >How Can Stress Manifest in the Body?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#What_Signs_of_Chronic_Stress_Shouldnt_Be_Ignored\" >What Signs of Chronic Stress Shouldn\u2019t Be Ignored?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#Why_Is_It_Important_to_Recognize_and_Manage_Stress_in_Time\" >Why Is It Important to Recognize and Manage Stress in Time?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#How_May_Stress_Affect_Weight_Gain\" >How May Stress Affect Weight Gain?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#What_Are_the_Five_Stress_Management_Techniques\" >What Are the Five Stress Management Techniques?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#How_to_Lower_Your_Stress_Levels_Naturally\" >How to Lower Your Stress Levels Naturally<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#Are_stress_and_cortisol_the_same_thing\" >Are stress and cortisol the same thing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#How_does_stress_management_impact_cortisol_levels\" >How does stress management impact cortisol levels?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#Can_reducing_stress_improve_metabolism\" >Can reducing stress improve metabolism?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#Can_managing_stress_alone_help_you_lose_weight\" >Can managing stress alone help you lose weight?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is a constant in today\u2019s fast-paced world. While a little stress can be a good thing (e.g. \u201ceustress\u201d, such as that which motivates us to take action), chronic stress can take a toll on both physical and mental health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/stress\/health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In particular, studies have shown that stress may impact your metabolism and may be correlated with weight gain and difficulty losing weight (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/endocrinology\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2023.1209975\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=How_To_Lower_Cortisol\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, we have good news. Incorporating stress management techniques may help reduce these negative effects, promote emotional well-being, and potentially help support <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/realistic-weight-loss-goals\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss goals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6296480\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019ll explore how stress impacts the body, the role played by stress in weight management, and five stress management techniques you can start implementing today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Can_Stress_Manifest_in_the_Body\"><\/span><b>How Can Stress Manifest in the Body?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is your body\u2019s natural response to challenges, which triggers a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/4-trauma-responses\/\">fight-or-flight-freeze-or-fawn<\/a>\u201d reaction (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0091302218300293?via%3Dihub\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). When you perceive a threat, your body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to prepare for action. This response is useful for short-term survival, but when stress becomes chronic, it may harm your body in multiple ways (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK541120\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, you may notice physical stress symptoms such as tense muscles, digestive issues, fatigue, or a racing heart (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK541120\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1113\/JP281951\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Mentally, chronic stress may make it difficult to focus, lead to mood swings, cause burnout, and leave you feeling irritable or overwhelmed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2213158220301741?via%3Dihub\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/03000605221106428\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic stress may also manifest differently from person to person. Some people may experience tension headaches or jaw pain from clenching their teeth, while others may notice persistent fatigue, even after a full night\u2019s sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, these symptoms may snowball into more serious long-term health issues if left unaddressed, such as cardiovascular problems including high blood pressure, poor digestion, and a weakened immune system (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK541120\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1113\/JP281951\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=How_To_Lower_Cortisol\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-68146\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/422-12-hour-night-shift-meal-plan-1024x640.png\" alt=\"How To Lower Cortisol\" width=\"770\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/422-12-hour-night-shift-meal-plan.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/422-12-hour-night-shift-meal-plan-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/422-12-hour-night-shift-meal-plan.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/422-12-hour-night-shift-meal-plan-1472x920.png 1472w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/422-12-hour-night-shift-meal-plan.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Signs_of_Chronic_Stress_Shouldnt_Be_Ignored\"><\/span><b>What Signs of Chronic Stress Shouldn\u2019t Be Ignored?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic stress symptoms don\u2019t show up overnight, which can make them easy to overlook. However, some signs shouldn\u2019t be ignored, as they may be signs of other health issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, persistent headaches may be a sign that your body is struggling to cope with prolonged stress (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninds.nih.gov\/health-information\/disorders\/headache\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In addition, experiencing constant fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns, or getting sick frequently may indicate that stress is weakening your <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/30-best-immune-boosting-foods\/\">immune system<\/a> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK557676\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). However, as these symptoms may also be linked to other physiological triggers, it\u2019s best to consult your primary care provider to get diagnostic clarity and a treatment plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other symptoms that shouldn\u2019t be ignored include sudden changes in appetite, such as overeating or a loss of interest in food, in addition to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/processing-emotions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emotional symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as anxiety, irritability, or depression.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_It_Important_to_Recognize_and_Manage_Stress_in_Time\"><\/span><b>Why Is It Important to Recognize and Manage Stress in Time?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning how to manage stress early on is essential for preventing long-term adverse effects. Prolonged stress may lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression, heart disease, and weight gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/stress\/health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoiding stress management impacts more than just your mood as it can disrupt hormonal balance, digestion, and your cognitive ability to make healthy lifestyle choices (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41380-023-01986-4\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing regular<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/stress-management-exercises\/\"> stress management<\/a> techniques can help improve focus, build better relationships, and increase resilience when facing challenges (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30020672\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mental-health\/living-with\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/newsinhealth.nih.gov\/2020\/10\/manage-stress-build-resilience\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In addition, effective stress management may help prevent burnout, a condition that may leave you emotionally and physically drained (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/public-health\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1231266\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Whether you\u2019re a workout beast or just a beginner making your first foray into the world of fitness and dieting \u2013 BetterMe has a lot to offer to both newbies and experts! <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=How_To_Lower_Cortisol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Install the app and experience the versatility first-hand!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_May_Stress_Affect_Weight_Gain\"><\/span><b>How May Stress Affect Weight Gain?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your stress levels are elevated, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\">cortisol<\/a> may trigger your body to store energy as fat, particularly around the face and in the abdominal area (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK538239\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This may occur due to your body conserving resources for survival when it perceives stress as a threat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress may also trigger behaviors that promote weight gain. For example, emotional eating is a common coping mechanism where people seek comfort in calorie-dense foods. These foods may provide temporary relief in the short term, but may lead to long-term weight gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/15\/5\/1173\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress may also affect weight gain as regular exercise often takes a back seat when life feels overwhelming. This means there are fewer opportunities to burn calories and relieve tension. Over time, these behaviors compound and make maintaining a healthy weight while stressed more difficult (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/abm\/article\/51\/6\/799\/4648577\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic stress may also slow your metabolism, which means your body doesn\u2019t burn calories as it would in calmer circumstances. Research has suggested that elevated cortisol levels may reduce your body\u2019s ability to process and metabolize food, leading to a higher likelihood of weight gain, even if your diet hasn\u2019t changed significantly (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cell.com\/iscience\/fulltext\/S2589-0042(22)00965-8?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004222009658%3Fshowall%3Dtrue\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/stress-awareness-month\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress Awareness Month: Choose Well-Being with BetterMe Mental Health<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Five_Stress_Management_Techniques\"><\/span><b>What Are the Five Stress Management Techniques?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b> Practice Mindfulness and Meditation<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is the practice of focusing on the present moment without judgment (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30020672\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This practice may help manage stress by lowering cortisol levels, enhancing emotional regulation, and reducing rumination (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/meditation-and-mindfulness-effectiveness-and-safety\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meditation is a common <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/mindfulness-tips\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mindfulness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> technique that may help calm your mind and lower stress hormones such as cortisol (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/17437199.2020.1760727\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Even five to ten minutes of meditation daily may significantly reduce your stress levels and improve your emotional resilience (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-023-46578-y\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b> Engage in Regular Physical Activity<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular exercise is one of the most effective tools for reducing stress. Physical activity lowers cortisol while releasing endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/e-pan.org\/journal\/view.php?doi=10.20463\/pan.2024.0015\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week. This works out as roughly 30 minutes, five days a week, or 20 minutes daily if you\u2019d prefer to do shorter sessions (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/physical-activity-basics\/adding-adults\/what-counts.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <section class=\"ad-select-gender\">\n        <div class=\"ad-select-gender-wrapper\">\n            <img class=\"ad-select-gender-image\" alt=\"MaleImage\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"297\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/MaleImage.webp\">\n    \n            <div class=\"ad-select-gender-text mobile-hide\">\n                <div class=\"ad-select-gender-desc\">Get your <span class=\"green f-600\">personal plan<\/span> according to your age and BMI<\/div>\n                <div class=\"ad-select-gender-title f-600\">\n                    Select your gender\n                <\/div>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Shortcod2\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\" target=\"_blank\">Male<\/a>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Shortcod2\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\" target=\"_blank\">Female<\/a>\n            <\/div>\n    \n            <img class=\"ad-select-gender-image\" alt=\"FemaleImage\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"297\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/FemaleImage.webp\">\n        <\/div>\n    \n        <div class=\"ad-select-gender-text desktop-hide mobile-block\">\n          <div class=\"ad-select-gender-desc\">Get your <span class=\"green f-600\">personal plan<\/span> according to your age and BMI<\/div>\n          <div class=\"ad-select-gender-title f-600\">\n            Select your gender\n          <\/div>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Shortcod2\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\" target=\"_blank\">Male<\/a>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Shortcod2\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\" target=\"_blank\">Female<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<ul>\n<li><b> Prioritize Sleep<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never underestimate the power of a good night\u2019s rest. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/is-2-hours-of-sleep-better-than-none\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting enough sleep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allows your body to repair itself and regulate cortisol levels (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep\/why-sleep-important\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To best support your stress management, you should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night and establish a calming bedtime routine that reduces your stress levels (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep\/how-much-sleep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">26<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This means limiting screen time and practicing other relaxation techniques.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b> Build Strong Social Connections<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s no secret that human connection is essential for emotional well-being. Spending time with friends or loved ones can reduce social isolation and help you cope with stressful situations (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/loneliness-and-social-isolation\/loneliness-and-social-isolation-tips-staying-connected\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b> Develop Healthy Coping Mechanisms<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replacing unhealthy coping habits such as overeating or excessive screen time with healthier alternatives is essential for effective stress management. Activities such as journaling, reading, painting, listening to music, and spending time in nature may help shift your focus, reduce stress, and boost your mood (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/caring-for-your-mental-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you wish to free yourself from all the extra pounds that have been weighing you down for way too long, <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=How_To_Lower_Cortisol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">start using the BetterMe: Health Coaching app<\/a> and overhaul your entire life!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Lower_Your_Stress_Levels_Naturally\"><\/span><b>How to Lower Your Stress Levels Naturally<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes stress catches you off guard and you need immediate relief. Fortunately, there are several quick and easy ways to cope with stress naturally, helping to calm your mind and body in the moment.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deep Breathing Exercises:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Deep <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/somatic-breathing-exercises\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">breathing exercises<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which may promote relaxation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3425\/13\/12\/1612\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">29<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, hold for four seconds, and exhale slowly for another four. This technique helps regulate your heart rate and lower cortisol levels.<\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Progressive Muscle Relaxation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This technique involves systematically tensing and relaxing different muscle groups, which studies have shown allows your body to release physical tension and feel more grounded (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1360859224003061\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aromatherapy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Essential oils such as lavender and chamomile have been found to be effective for stress reduction (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-9032\/11\/22\/2978\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In addition, sipping on herbal teas such as chamomile or peppermint may provide both physical and emotional relaxation. Peppermint tea has also been found to be effective for supporting gut health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/apt.17179\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">32<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While these quick fixes won\u2019t solve your chronic stress issues, they may at least provide temporary relief and give you the clarity needed to address underlying stressors. If you have the option to do so, working with a mental health care provider may help you navigate life\u2019s stressors in adaptive ways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=How_To_Lower_Cortisol\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-68426\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4835-7-day-meal-plan-for-runners-2-1024x640.png\" alt=\"How To Lower Cortisol\" width=\"770\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4835-7-day-meal-plan-for-runners-2.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4835-7-day-meal-plan-for-runners-2-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4835-7-day-meal-plan-for-runners-2.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4835-7-day-meal-plan-for-runners-2-1472x920.png 1472w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/4835-7-day-meal-plan-for-runners-2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><b>Frequently Asked Questions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_stress_and_cortisol_the_same_thing\"><\/span><strong>Are stress and cortisol the same thing?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress and cortisol aren\u2019t the same thing. Stress is a physical or emotional response to challenges, while cortisol is a hormone that is released by the body during stressful situations. Cortisol helps the body manage short-term stress, but it may be harmful when your levels of it are elevated for extended periods (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK538239\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_stress_management_impact_cortisol_levels\"><\/span><strong>How does stress management impact cortisol levels?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incorporating stress management techniques such as meditation, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep may reduce cortisol production and help keep its levels in check. Lower cortisol levels can result in better emotional regulation, improved metabolism, and a lower risk of weight-related issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_reducing_stress_improve_metabolism\"><\/span><strong>Can reducing stress improve metabolism?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing stress may support a healthy, well-functioning metabolism. Chronic stress may slow down metabolic processes, while techniques such as exercise and proper rest can reverse these effects and boost your body\u2019s ability to burn calories efficiently (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6296480\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_managing_stress_alone_help_you_lose_weight\"><\/span><strong>Can managing stress alone help you lose weight?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While managing stress may be helpful for weight loss, it\u2019s not a panacea for weight management. Eating a well-balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits should accompany stress management for sustainable weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2196&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=How_To_Lower_Cortisol\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-1.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but it doesn\u2019t have to control your health or weight. If left unchecked, chronic stress may disrupt your body\u2019s hormonal balance, potentially leading to weight gain, among other health issues. Fortunately, adopting healthy stress management techniques such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/mindfulness-activities-for-adults\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mindfulness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and meditation, regular exercise, improved sleep hygiene, social connection, and healthy coping mechanisms can help reduce the negative impact of stress on your overall health without sabotaging your weight loss efforts. While there\u2019s no quick fix to stress management, taking small, consistent steps can lead to significant improvements in your physical and emotional well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stress is a constant in today\u2019s fast-paced world. While a little stress can be a good thing (e.g. \u201ceustress\u201d, such as that which motivates us to take action), chronic stress can take a toll on both physical and mental health (1). In particular, studies have shown that stress may impact your metabolism and may be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":71399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[132],"tags":[],"coauthors":[109,87],"class_list":["post-28658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques? - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you wondering how to \u2605 HOW TO LOWER CORTISOL \u27a4 in your body? Check out this article for simple tips and foods to help reduce your stress and cortisol levels.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you wondering how to \u2605 HOW TO LOWER CORTISOL \u27a4 in your body? Check out this article for simple tips and foods to help reduce your stress and cortisol levels.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-12T22:24:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\u0421. Kamau\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f9c1a6effa8c3e87adaf60e1ab104496\"},\"headline\":\"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques?\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-12T22:24:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/\"},\"wordCount\":1505,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Mental Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Stress is a constant in today\u2019s fast-paced world. While a little stress can be a good thing (e.g. \u201ceustress\u201d, such as that which motivates us to take action), chronic stress can take a toll on both physical and mental health (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/stress\/health\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">). In particular, studies have shown that stress may impact your metabolism and may be correlated with weight gain and difficulty losing weight (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/endocrinology\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2023.1209975\/full\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span data-sheets-root=\\\"1\\\"><\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Fortunately, we have good news. Incorporating stress management techniques may help reduce these negative effects, promote emotional well-being, and potentially help support <\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/realistic-weight-loss-goals\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">weight loss goals<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\"> (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6296480\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">In this article, we\u2019ll explore how stress impacts the body, the role played by stress in weight management, and five stress management techniques you can start implementing today.<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>How Can Stress Manifest in the Body?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Stress is your body\u2019s natural response to challenges, which triggers a \u201c<a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/4-trauma-responses\/\\\">fight-or-flight-freeze-or-fawn<\/a>\u201d reaction (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0091302218300293?via%3Dihub\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-w ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/\",\"name\":\"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques? - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-12T22:24:14+00:00\",\"description\":\"Are you wondering how to \u2605 HOW TO LOWER CORTISOL \u27a4 in your body? 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Kamau\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/0ed0cd9711a5e48e59c4cd4e3aa6902c\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"\u0421. Kamau\"},\"description\":\"Clare is an excellent and experienced writer who has a great interest in nutrition, weight loss, and working out. She believes that everyone should take an interest in health and fitness, as not only do they improve your way of life, but they can also have a significant impact on your health. As a writer, her goal is to educate her readers about the ways they can reprogram themselves to enjoy exercise, as well as break free from bad eating habits. 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Check out this article for simple tips and foods to help reduce your stress and cortisol levels.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques?","og_description":"Are you wondering how to \u2605 HOW TO LOWER CORTISOL \u27a4 in your body? Check out this article for simple tips and foods to help reduce your stress and cortisol levels.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_modified_time":"2025-03-12T22:24:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1200,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/"},"author":{"name":"\u0421. Kamau","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f9c1a6effa8c3e87adaf60e1ab104496"},"headline":"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques?","dateModified":"2025-03-12T22:24:14+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/"},"wordCount":1505,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png","articleSection":["Mental Health"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is a constant in today\u2019s fast-paced world. While a little stress can be a good thing (e.g. \u201ceustress\u201d, such as that which motivates us to take action), chronic stress can take a toll on both physical and mental health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/stress\/health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In particular, studies have shown that stress may impact your metabolism and may be correlated with weight gain and difficulty losing weight (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/endocrinology\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2023.1209975\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, we have good news. Incorporating stress management techniques may help reduce these negative effects, promote emotional well-being, and potentially help support <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/realistic-weight-loss-goals\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss goals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6296480\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019ll explore how stress impacts the body, the role played by stress in weight management, and five stress management techniques you can start implementing today.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>How Can Stress Manifest in the Body?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress is your body\u2019s natural response to challenges, which triggers a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/4-trauma-responses\/\">fight-or-flight-freeze-or-fawn<\/a>\u201d reaction (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0091302218300293?via%3Dihub\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-w ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/","name":"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques? - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png","dateModified":"2025-03-12T22:24:14+00:00","description":"Are you wondering how to \u2605 HOW TO LOWER CORTISOL \u27a4 in your body? Check out this article for simple tips and foods to help reduce your stress and cortisol levels.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cover-11.png","width":1920,"height":1200},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lower-cortisol\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mental Health","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Stress Reduction and Weight Loss: What Are Five Stress Management Techniques?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; Fitness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization","name":"BetterMe","alternateName":"Betterme Limited","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"BetterMe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/x.com\/betterme","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236","https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f9c1a6effa8c3e87adaf60e1ab104496","name":"\u0421. Kamau","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/0ed0cd9711a5e48e59c4cd4e3aa6902c","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png","caption":"\u0421. Kamau"},"description":"Clare is an excellent and experienced writer who has a great interest in nutrition, weight loss, and working out. She believes that everyone should take an interest in health and fitness, as not only do they improve your way of life, but they can also have a significant impact on your health. As a writer, her goal is to educate her readers about the ways they can reprogram themselves to enjoy exercise, as well as break free from bad eating habits. In her articles, Clare tries to give advice which is backed by scientific research and is also easy to follow on a day-to-day basis. She believes that everyone, no matter their age, gender, or fitness level, can always learn something new that can benefit their health.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/clare-k-420b7a133\/"],"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/author\/clarekamau\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28658"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71451,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28658\/revisions\/71451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28658"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=28658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}