Cortisol face and Belly

[FloridaCheese]

I'm getting lots of social media ads for herbal supplements to combat a hormonal/peri "cortisol face" or belly

the thing is, I do have an eye baggy face. And carry weight around my belly

is this a thing. Does anyone use the supplements for this and they had a positive impact?

how old are you?

I think half of this stuff is just what happens when you age, and these companies like to take advantage of us feeling a bit crap when we notice these things happening to us.

Please avoid these so-called cures. They are at best snake oil, and at worst can actually be more damaging to your body.

I have a condition called Addisons Disease, which means my body does not produce cortisol at all. Since my diagnosis I have learnt a LOT about cortisol and its uses in the body. Using these unregulated supplements can cause more problems as your body (assuming it is producing cortisol normally) tries to compensate - it can throw your whole endocrine system out of whack. If you do think you have a serious hormonal imbalance please ask to be referred to an endocrinologist.

You can't just ask to see an endocrinologist though that's why supplements are so popular

Yes high cortisol can cause weight gain and fatigue
The best approach to reducing cortisol is diet and reducing caffeine and alcohol and reducing stress (meditation, exercise)
You can take supplements that might help omega 3, ashwaganda but effects will be limited. There is no magic pill.
Ignore the Internet ads. You have sat on something and now you are an easy target for overpriced ineffective, low dose vitamins which will be on subscription for'best price' so you've spent a fortune before you realise they don't work.

thanks all

im mid 40's

slim except belly bloat. Have good diet, struggling to understand why I'm ballooning

Yep, tried loads and all snake oil - diet and stress have been the only things that work for me.

At the risk of blaming everything on peri - are you on HRT. Declining estrogen can result in fat shifted to the tummy area.

A bloated belly on an otherwise slim frame could denote something gynaecological and should be checked out by your GP in the first instance.

But it is normal for us to start storing weight differently towards menopause... drat it! 😄

Ignore the stuff online, it’s scams.

However. I used to have a proportionally bigger stomach and a swollen face for some years. I was just stressed, miserable, eating badly.

Believe it or not I have a flat stomach now, skin I get compliments on and feel amazing most days.

2 things made a huge difference - embracing a low stress lifestyle, ie slow mornings, not one chore chasing another, taking time to do mindful things for my body, being in fresh air, spa days… Better sleep!

But most of all, not eating UPFs anymore. The moment I removed UPFs from my menu, my body let go of half a stone almost instantly. It wasn’t ‘weight’ as such, probably just water weight my body was holding onto with help from all the excess salt and sugar. Since then, bloating hasn’t been a thing, unless I occasionally lapse and eat pub grub or similar. Oh and no alcohol…

Certain meds or supplements may be available to help you as well but please speak to a professional. There are cortisol suppressants, but why not get tested first? Full bloods etc