Cortisol is known as your fat-storing stress hormone. Declining estrogen and progesterone during menopause can trigger increased cortisol levels and a dysregulated cortisol pattern. Additionally, the symptoms of menopausal hormone decline such as hot flashes, insomnia and anxiety can magnify the impact of cortisol… Unfortunately, many of the things we do to combat our menopause symptoms can add even more stress, triggering more of a cortisol response (Yes, including those punishing workouts that leave nothing but metabolic stress on your body!)
Dysregulated cortisol levels may result in difficulty sleeping, an increase in your appetite and it can signal your body to shift your metabolism to store fat.
What’s more, excess or insufficient cortisol can wreak havoc on your thyroid health, which plays an important role in regulating your metabolism, mood, and energy levels.