Locations:
Search IconSearch
January 9, 2024/Living Healthy/Wellness

Tips to Reduce Cortisol Levels and Dial Down Stress

Certain activities, foods and supplements can help calm your body

happy female in yellow coat walking in woods

Stress isn’t exactly in short supply these days. In fact, more than 1 in 4 adults say they’re so stressed out, they can’t even function, according to a report by the American Psychological Association.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

That’s a tsunami of a stress hormone called cortisol rising and crashing in our collective systems. Just picturing that wave is … well, stressful.

But there are simple things you can do to better control your cortisol levels and keep stress-fueling surges at bay. Let’s look at your options with integrative medicine doctor Yufang Lin, MD.

Cortisol and stress

Cortisol is a hormone your body produces naturally. It’s produced and released into your bloodstream by your adrenal glands. Cortisol affects nearly every organ system in your body, but its status as the “stress hormone” gives it somewhat of a bad rap.

“Cortisol supports overall health,” says Dr. Lin. “It helps us wake up in the morning, gives us energy during the day and lowers at night to help us sleep and rest.”

Problems arise when chronic stress keeps your cortisol levels elevated. High cortisol levels over weeks or months can lead to inflammation and a variety of mental and physical health issues like:

The good news? There are ways to keep your cortisol production from ramping up.

How to manage cortisol levels

There’s a lot of information and theories about cortisol control floating around. For instance, you may have heard that you can lower cortisol levels with a nice cup of green tea or by eating dark chocolate.

Advertisement

Alas, it’s not quite that simple. (Is it ever?)

“Nutrition is absolutely important for coping with stress and supporting your mood, but there’s no single food that’s going to do it all,” clarifies Dr. Lin. “You have to look at your whole lifestyle to understand what factors are contributing to elevated cortisol and how you can address those factors to reduce stress.”

Let’s break it down into three categories — lifestyle choices, food and herbs/supplements.

Lifestyle changes to reduce cortisol

Making changes in your day-to-day habits and activities can go a long way toward maintaining healthy cortisol levels and feeling less stressed. Dr. Lin suggested these four go-to strategies for the body and mind.

  • Exercise. Physical activity benefits you head to toe, so it’s no surprise that it helps with stress relief, too. Studies show that exercise can help bring down cortisol levels, particularly as you age.
  • Sleep. Almost nothing beats a good night’s sleep when it comes to managing stress. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, has been connected to increased cortisol levels. So, don’t skimp on shut-eye.
  • Get outdoors. Spending time in nature is a great way to calm your brain. The practice of “forest bathing” — essentially, hanging out in the woods and breathing the forest air — can reduce cortisol levels and lower stress. (Just pack your bug spray, so the mosquitoes don’t stress you out.)
  • Practice mindfulness. Yoga, tai chi, meditation and breathing exercises can be great stress busters and keep cortisol levels low.

How foods affect cortisol

Good nutrition can make a difference in your stress levels. Research suggests that eating nutrition-rich foods with anti-inflammatory properties may calm your body and slow the production of cortisol.

The list includes:

  • Magnesium-rich foods such as avocados, bananas, dark chocolate, broccoli and spinach.
  • Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish (anchovies, salmon, tuna), chia seeds, flax seeds and walnuts.
  • Gut-friendly foods such as Greek yogurt, kombucha and sauerkraut.

The Mediterranean diet or other balanced eating plans that emphasize plant-based foods work well in keeping cortisol levels in check. “A healthy diet is a key part of stress management,” says Dr. Lin.

On the flip side, cortisol and stress levels may spike if you’re eating too many foods high in added sugar (cookies and cakes, for instance) or drinking soda or excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeinated beverages.

Herbs and supplements that may reduce cortisol

The supplement aisle at the store is hardly a one-way ticket to a stress-free life. But research shows that some herbs and natural supplements may help keep cortisol levels in a healthy range, Dr. Lin notes.

Examples include:

A word of caution, though: While some herbs might help lower cortisol levels, you don’t want to just swallow pills out of a bottle to address stress. After all, cortisol production is a response to stress and not necessarily your body’s driver of stress. So, blindly taking supplements to try to lower cortisol may not resolve the root issue behind your stress. 

Advertisement

“If you’re thinking about trying supplements, talk to a trained provider first,” recommends Dr. Lin.

If you want to avoid supplements, consider making a stop in the tea aisle at your local market. Many herbs that reduce cortisol levels can be found in herbal teas. Examples include the herbs listed above plus chamomile, peppermint, passion flower and others.

“Take a moment to brew a cup of tea with herbs that are soothing,” suggests Dr. Lin. “Deeply breathe in the luscious aroma and wrap your hand around the warm cup. This is a wonderful way to reset your nervous system.”

Final thoughts

When it comes to de-stressing and reducing cortisol levels, there’s no single way to get the job done.

“No one food, pill or activity can deliver you to a lasting blissful calm,” reiterates Dr. Lin. “But healthy choices can set your body up for low-stress success in the long run.”

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Person with a desk sun lamp facing them at their workstation
November 11, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
A Sun Lamp for SAD: Does It Work?

Light therapy can boost sleep and help fight depression

Person sitting at desk at home office, sipping from steaming mug and typing on laptop
November 4, 2024/Mental Health
How You Can Work From Home and Still Be Productive

Schedule breaks, stand and stretch, and rely on alarms, to-do lists and other tools to help keep you focused

Professional person flustered by paperwork swirling all around them
October 31, 2024/Mental Health
Signs of Job Burnout — and 5 Ways To Beat It

Work burnout can leave you exhausted and frustrated at work and beyond, but you can beat it by setting boundaries and surrounding yourself with positivity

Person comforting stressed out person, with coffee cups and open laptop on table
October 23, 2024/Mental Health
Stressed Out? Use These 14 Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Fill your coping toolbelt with healthy skills like getting outside, writing in a journal, volunteering, laughing or talking with a friend

Gold spoonful of white powder and silver spoonful of brown powder
October 15, 2024/Skin Care & Beauty
Biotin Side Effects: What’s the Risk?

Taking supplements with biotin can cause inaccurate lab test results

Person lifting small dumbell weights
October 10, 2024/Chronic Pain
Options for Natural Pain Relief

Always seek medical advice for pain — but exercise, stretching, guided imagery and deep breathing may help in the meantime

Person sitting on couch with head in hand, looking upset/stressed
October 4, 2024/Mental Health
How Stress Can Make You Sick

We all experience some stress from time to time, but chronic stress can contribute to health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Spoonful of bee pollen granules held up over bee pollen granules
October 3, 2024/Wellness
Bee Pollen: What It Is and Why You Really Don’t Need It

Fans may call it ‘nature’s multivitamin,’ but this bee byproduct’s benefits aren’t proven, and it can bring some serious allergy risks

Trending Topics

Person touching aching ear, with home remedies floating around
Home Remedies for an Ear Infection: What To Try and What To Avoid

Not all ear infections need antibiotics — cold and warm compresses and changing up your sleep position can help

Infographic of foods high in iron, including shrimp, oysters, peas, cream of wheat, prunes, eggs, broccoli, beef and chicken
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Person squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water
Is Starting Your Day With Lemon Water Healthy?

A glass of lemon water in the morning can help with digestion and boost vitamin C levels, and may even help get you into a better routine

Ad