However, she adds, if our cortisol levels remain high, that’s when it can become a health issue.

“If your cortisol levels are high for a long time it can cause diabetes, weight gain, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, depression and more,” she says. “It’s important to note that the severity and risk of this depends on the cause, how high the cortisol level is and for how long it has been elevated.”

Do you really need to lower cortisol?

As Alexander explains, there are two separate causes of high cortisol — lifestyle and medical.

A lifestyle cause would be chronic stress. “This can present with symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, depression, intestinal problems, irritability, fatigue, high blood pressure and more,” she says.

However, there are also medical conditions that can lead to chronic high cortisol. “Cushing’s syndrome is a medical condition where one has significantly elevated cortisol levels,” she notes. “These patients experience a mix of symptoms, which may include high blood pressure, bruising easily, experience muscle weakness, excessive body hair, weight gain, mood swings or sexual dysfunction. If you are worried about any of these symptoms it is important to discuss these with your GP.”

High cortisol can also occur as a side effect of certain medications. “In these circumstances it’s very important not to stop medications abruptly as this can cause more problem,” she says. “Instead I would encourage you to discuss a plan with your doctor.”

How to reduce cortisol

Because stress causes cortisol to spike (not the other way around), Alexander suggests tackling the root of the problem rather than immediately resorting to the cortisol-lowering wellness hacks you might come across on TikTok.

“If your increased cortisol levels are related to stress then the first port of call would be treating the root cause through stress management techniques,” she says. “With that said, stress is a complex topic and blanket approaches don’t work because the causes of stress are usually multifactorial.”

She adds, “Stress management strategies depend on the source of the stress and must be individualised. Suggestions include a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, prioritising sleep, guided meditation, breathwork, taking breaks at work, connecting with friends and family in the evening or at the weekend, journalling or enjoying hobbies.”

Lets take a look at the best ways to lower cortisol in a bit more detail:

Focus on a balanced diet

Introducing more balance into your diet can help to keep your cortisol levels in check. There are certain foods that can cause cortisol to spike or dip, such as sugary foods, overly processed foods or refined grains. Instead, try to get into a pattern of eating consistent, healthy, nutrient-rich meals throughout the day.

Regular exercise

Even getting up from your desk for a quick 15 minute walk once a day can help. Or maybe it’s a quick 20 minute yoga flow during your lunch break. Interestingly, an intense workout can actually raise your cortisol levels slightly directly following exercise, but the stress hormone decreses a few hours later, aiding relaxation. But even when you don’t have time or energy for a full, intensive workout, keeping moving and active throughout the day will keep cortisol levels steady.

Prioritise sleep

Yes, we all get busy, but don’t skimp on sleep. It’s well-known that reduced sleep can immediately raise cortisol levels the next day, so, if you can, make time for rest!

Try meditation or breathwork

Build habits that help you feel calmer and more in control throughout your day. A simple five-minute meditation can help you feel more grounded and more in touch with your body, while breathwork exercises can help you relax unneeded tension and get in tune with your body. The BIG breakthwork method has been shown to be particularly effective in lowering cortisol.

Take a break

Guilty of rushing from one task to the next in a chaotic rush to tick everything off your checklist? A 10 minute break won’t hurt you. All of your tasks will still be there when you come back — and guess what? You’ll come back feeling calmer and steadier.

Connect with family and friends

Taking time to socialise with friends and family can do wonders for your cortisol levels. Studies have shown that spending time with friends can have a big impact on keeping your cortisol low throughout your life — if there’s ever been motivation to make sure plans make it out of the group chat, it’s that. Romantically, it’s been proven that having compassion and empathy towards your partner, and receiving it in turn, can actually lower your stress levels.

Make time for your hobbies

Have some fun! Relax! Do some colouring or journalling or reading! Hobbies should never be the last thing on your list. Make time for them — your cortisol levels will thank you. And apparently, they can keep your brain young, too.