Cortisol blocker that actually works?

[#8]

Is there a supplement or food that has been shown to markedly reduce cortisol?

There are dozens of products I have found that show potential through various pathways including DHEA and 7-Keto that might be worth exploring but I am curious if you know of any that do in fact work.

Cheers.

:)

[Praetorian]

Cortisol is a very necessary hormone..the question is why would you want to reduce it?

P

[cog]

^^^^^
I thought this stuff burned muscle like rocket fuel.????

[Praetorian]

An overabundance of cortisol at the wrong time can lead to negative effects...that is not to say that cortisol is not fundamentally necessary for the human body to function optimally. Without cortisol you would have severe negative effects in essence Addisons disease. Post training a stress hormone situation is necessary in order for adaptation to the induced stress of lifting in order for muscles to grow.

P

[#8]

I have some training coming up that is rather heavy in triggering of cortisol production.

It is not unheard of for some guys to lose over 20 lbs in a week due to this hormonal flux. I want to come into it with as much of a "shield" as possible to help combat this proactively, and during if possible.

[Praetorian]

It is not the cortisol that is causing the weight loss. If you are engaged in an exercise the burns muscle tissue..running as an example and push it to the limits you will lose muscle. It is the same reason why guys who play hockey or football are always lighter at the end of the season. Also with an massive increase in output calorie expenditure is huge...if you do not support the muscle with fuel and protein it will go plain and simple. Yes there is cortisol release as with any type of exercise but that is not the primary culprit. Well times protein and carbohydrate ingestion will help much more than any cortisol blocker. This is the whole idea behind intra training supplements.

P

[#8]

Im not talking about exercise induced cortisol increases. Im talking EXTREME stress response training, coupled with less than optimal nutrition. We are talking about trying to break someone completely through mental exhaustion. I know that certain genetic traits inhibit cortisol production and those with these traits tend to respond better in these situations. I have no idea what my physiological disposition is, but it never hurts to get a bit of an edge heading into these kind of training courses.

[Praetorian]

The weight loss is mostly due to nutrition. However you can help control the stress with vitamin C, Taurine, high protein low carb diet, avoid stimulants, and use a probiotic.

P

[#8]

I agree that nutrition is key in most cases. The articles I am reading record weight loss at up to 22 lbs in 3 days. This cannot be attributed to nutrition IMO. It certainly plays a part, but I am guessing a catabolic state due to hormonal changes is the biggest factor here.

[Praetorian]

That weight loss is mostly water. You cannot burn muscle or fat that fast.

P

[#8]

Youre probably right, but trust me when I say that cortisol will be firing on all cylinders.

[Praetorian]

No doubt cortisol will be high but that is not the main issue for weight loss...its water and then nutrition.

P

[TT Eric]

Saw this article:

http://articles.elitefts.com/training-articles/cortisol-a-good-guy-with-a-bad-rap/

Eric

[#8]

The effects of cortisol post training are FAR different than the effects experienced in an extreme stress inducing environment where you will literally pass / black out from the effects of the training.

Im not talking about a hardcore leg day where youre burnt from training. Im talking about being forced awake for several days on end and having to tread water for extended periods of time on little to no food.

Are you guys tracking this?

[TT Eric]

I did not experienced it for several days, usually after a day or 2 I can eat normally and sleep normally.

Eric

[steve_d]

Im talking about being forced awake for several days on end and having to tread water for extended periods of time on little to no food.


Sounds like frosh week, lol.

Seriously though - the body can go through a lot for short periods of time without the effects of muscle loss. I would say individuals more likely to 'crack' so to speak are not the ones with cortisol firing on all cylinders but simply those that are mentally and physically weaker. People have all sorts of varying levels of pain threshold - even when experiencing the same level of pain. Any cortisol blocker having an effect on this situation would be purely a placebo effect. Although I could be entirely wrong. Would make for a good study if there was any biologic plausibility to the cortisol thing.