According to an article recently published on WorldHealth.net, chronic stress can lead to cognitive decline in type II diabetics. Produced by the adrenal glands, the “stress hormone” known as cortisol is produced as the body’s natural “fight or flight” response to elevated stress levels; however, scientists have found that diabetics with high morning cortisol levels demonstrate lower mental acuity.
The stress hormone first gained popularity when scientists discovered that the overproduction of cortisol was causing women and men to gain weight – especially in the abdominal region. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stress hormones, weight gain and diabetes are all intertwined. When we’re stressed or anxious, our bodies release cortisol into our bloodstream. When this happens, our appetite increases and our bodies aren’t capable of metabolizing fat properly and begin storing fat in the abdominals instead of the hips.
Belly fat associated with high cortisol levels is oftentimes referred to as “toxic fat” because abdominal fat deposition has a strong correlation with cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack. Although scientists haven’t proven that stress reduction can help women and men minimize their risk of diabetes, balanced nutrition and regular exercise can.
In light of National Nutrition Month, for the entire month of March, BodyLogicMD’s highly trained bioidentical hormone doctors are encouraging women and men to eat right, get fit and live better, longer with helpful tips on how to age gracefully. BodyLogicMD physicians have helped tens of thousands of patients balance cortisol levels, using a combination of stress reduction techniques, customized nutrition and fitness regimens and when necessary, bioidentical hormone therapy.