“Higher cortisol levels can increase our appetite, potentially leading to weight gain,” says Chloe Brotheridge, hypnotherapist and author of The Anxiety Solution.
“If you begin to notice you’re feeling stressed or irritated in situations you usually wouldn’t feel this in, it may also be an indicator that your cortisol levels are a little haywire,” says Ollis.
Cortisol, widely known as the ‘stress hormone’ has been a common topic as people’s stress levels increase.
“Aim to go to bed at the same time every night, avoid phones and heavy meals in the two hours before bed, and create a calming nighttime routine to support deeper, more restful sleep,” she says.
“Whenever we’re chronically stressed, blood flow is diverted away from digestion, leading to gut imbalances, bloating or worsening symptoms of conditions like IBS,” says Brotheridge.
