There is a hormone that has existed in the body since creation but has only recently become severally mentioned and famous, but not necessarily popular.
That hormone is named Cortisol otherwise referred to as stress hormone which is a built-in alarm system of the human body that goes off when something is or about to be wrong.
And of course in today’s world, the stress factor in everyday life is overwhelming hence its great importance.
According to Dr. Richard Abejide, a Lagos based Endocrinologist, Cortisol is referred to as the human body’s primary steroid hormone which is produced in the adrenal glands and which functions to moderate immune responses, blood sugar levels, general body metabolism and sleep-wake cycle. And of course, when general body metabolism, immunity, inflammation, blood sugar levels and sleep-wake cycles are efficiently regulated, a wide range of diseases are preventable.
While stressing that too low or too high cortisol levels were selectively dangerous to the human body, he emphasized that good regulation and management of the hormone for optimum health was achievable by:
*Prioritising daily seven to nine hours of intense sleep.
*Engaging in regular, moderate exercise.
*Eating a balanced, whole-food diet.
- *Practising mindfulness, deep breathing, or meditation to deactivate acute stress, among other cultural practices.
- By strictly adhering to the above factors, a person would have self-regulated the important hormone to achieve optimal health.
