Doesn’t sound like much? Consider this: Normally, the adrenal glands secrete cortisol in response to what we perceive as a crisis, which temporarily boosts immune function. If your cortisol levels stay high after the crisis, it can compromise the immune system.
Temporary increase of cortisol helps with long-term memory, but chronically high levels undermine memory and may lead to permanent changes in the brain.
Additionally, excessive cortisol has been linked with insulin resistance, skin problems, depression, high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
In rats, high cortisol levels lead to what researchers call “food-seeking behavior” ~the kind that drives you to eat when you’re upset, angry, or stressed. The body takes those extra calories and distributes them as fat in the abdomen, contributing to weight gain and the risk of diabetes and heart attack.
