Cortisol Belly

CORTISOL is a steroid — an important class of cyclic compounds produced by the human body.

- Dr. Sunil S Chiplunkar

Examples of natural steroids include cholesterol, sex hormones (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone), and regulatory molecules (aldosterone, corticosterone and cortisol). When the mind experiences a feeling of inability to cope with a situation, we say such a person is stressed - and it is in stressful conditions that there is a burst of cortisol release from the cortex region of adrenal glands, which are located atop the kidney like a cap.

Everything is in the mind!

When the human mind perceives a threat or challenge, there is enhanced release of adrenaline hormone that activates the attack or flee response. However, threat perception also creates stress and the stress hormone cortisol is released in a burst.

Key role of hypothalamus