Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. When we find ourselves in stressful situations, our adrenal glands release cortisol – an essential hormone that helps regulate our bodies’ stress response.
Everyone experiences stress to some degree but too much stress, especially for prolonged periods of time, can cause chronically-elevated cortisol levels which can be dangerous to our health. In fact, recent medical research estimates as much as 90 percent of illness and disease are stress related.
The good news is that certain foods can help reduce cortisol levels including leafy greens, fish, and avocados.