The Cortisol Connection

Why does stress make you fat? What can you ultimately do about it? Shawn Talbott answered these questions in THE CORTISOL CONNECTION. Cortisol is the body's main stress hormone, prompting our fight or flight mechanism when dealing with a highly stressful situation, like being chased by a lion. However, the human body was made to deal with short bursts of stress (like being chased by a lion), not prolonged, continuous levels of stress (like mortgage payments, project deadlines, and traffic jams). This kind of stress causes the body's cortisol levels to rise, and scientific research has shown that high cortisol levels are associated with obesity, diabetes, fatigue, and even Alzheimer's disease. This new edition describes the results of the latest research about the connection between cortisol and HSD, and cortisol and testosterone. If we keep cortisol and HSD and testosterone within normal ranges, we're able to maximize the metabolic effect of diet and exercise regimen – and improve weight loss. In the first edition, Talbott introduced his SENSE program, that teaches participants how to manage stress and reduce cortisol levels. The program has been refined in the second edition with the help of the new research and the results of Talbott's test of the SENSE program over the past 5 years – he know it works. For the past 5 years, he has been actively researching (and refining and tweaking) this popular program to make it more and more effective in helping people to lose weight. SENSE is a program that combines Stress management, Exercise, Nutrition, Supplementation, and Evaluation into a comprehensive and highly effective (yet easy to follow) program that delivers results. During these 5 years, Talbott has combined different dietary approaches with varied exercise regimens and myriad supplement combinations – until finding just the right combination that works best for the majority of people. This edition contains 25% new material and a revised program to help everyone manage cortisol, stress, and their weight.

The hormone cortisol, activated by the fight-or-flight (stress) response, is emerging as a major culprit in a variety of health problems. The Cortisol Connection explores the documented relationship between elevated levels of this hormone, chronic stress, and such health conditions as obesity, depression, suppressed immune system, osteoporosis, and hypertension. This new edition describes the results of the latest research about the connection between cortisol and HSD, and cortisol and testosterone.

The noted author of "The Cortisol Connection" offers an all-natural, inside-out approach to reversing wrinkles, preventing acne, and improving skin tone with an easy-to-follow program that incorporates diet, exercise, and natural products to control the cellular basis of aging.

More than 60 percent of American adults are overweight. On any given day, millions of people are using one of dozens of popular weight loss programs. They all promise miraculous results with little effort. They're all guaranteed to work for you. So, why do we need another diet book? One word: cortisol. The recently discovered connection between cortisol and weight gain is not a consideration in other diets. Elevated cortisol levels increase appetite, enhance fat storage, and disrupt blood sugar control. Cortisol control, explained by Talbott in his previous book, The Cortisol Connection, is the missing link to effective weight loss. The Cortisol Connection Diet is a safe, practical, proven approach that harnesses the 3 key aspects of metabolism that are at the heart of our epidemic of obesity. With this diet, you'll eat all of the foods that you love, but you’ll learn how to use your food to control the effects of cortisol and glucose in your body, and ultimately how many calories you burn off or store on your body as fat.

"The Cortisol Connection" explores the documented relationship between elevated levels of this hormone, chronic stress, and such health conditions as obesity, depression, suppressed immune system, osteoporosis, and hypertension. It then shows how to control cortisol through supplements, dozens of which are discussed in detail. Illustrations & tables.

Dr. Talbott shows beleaguered dieters how to eat for quality and quantity at every meal, focusing on the quality of carbs, fats, and proteins as well as the quantity, and explaining how to control cortisol and blood sugar.

The Third Edition of this popular book brings up to date the material that so many readers found helpful in the previous editions. The text has been revised and reorganized with current chapters focusing on the history of cortisol use, sources of confusion regarding cortisol therapy, the significance of normal adrenocortical function, generally accepted uses of physiological dosage, viral infections, miscellaneous clinical conditions, and future directions for research and therapy. The author provides explanation and confirmation of the rationale for the effectiveness and safety of the uses of physiological dosages of cortisol in the treatment, not only of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, but also of patients with chronic allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, gonadal dysfunction, infertility, shingles, acne, hirsutism, respiratory infections, and other less common disorders. It is a known fact that the influenza virus attacks the human body by impairing the production of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which, in turn, impairs the production of cortisol; the only hormone that is absolutely essential for life. In addition, within the past two years, a new infection has developed in central China and has been labeled Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The ACTH hormone and the SARS epidemic is addressed, and it is hoped that this type of cortisol therapy will not only be helpful in the treatment of the various disorders mentioned but will lead to a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the development of these disorders and ultimately contribute towards their prevention.

Mastering Cortisol explains why the fat that collects around the middle of the body can't simply be blamed on eating too much or not exercising enough. The real cause is stress, which triggers an imbalance of the hormone cortisol that in turn tricks the body into creating unnecessary belly fat. It's all part of the fight-or-flight response dating back to the caveman that tells the body to store up fat in times of peril. But the cycle can be stopped: Mastering Cortisol details specific ways to counter the cortisol with a tailor-made exercise plan that will slim the belly. Based on breakthrough genetic tests, the program also recommends specific vitamins and minerals and explains which foods will work best for the reader.