Cortisol – finding balance without the fads

A cortisol detox diet is one of those buzz wellness terms that’s been floating around, especially on social media. 

The idea is based on supporting the body in managing stress more effectively by supposedly detoxing excess cortisol – the hormone released during stress. 

But here’s the thing.

You can’t actually detox cortisol out of your system with a diet.

Cortisol is a hormone, not a toxin, which is regulated by your endocrine system, not your digestive tract.

That said, there are very legitimate nutritional and lifestyle strategies to help balance cortisol levels naturally, especially if they’re chronically elevated due to stress, poor sleep, over training, or blood sugar imbalances.

Balancing blood sugar

Eat regular meals with protein, fat and fibre to avoid the spike/crash cycle that stresses your adrenals.

Limiting stimulants like caffeine

As caffeine can drive cortisol up.

Prioritising sleep and rest

Cortisol naturally drops at night – if you’re not sleeping well, it won’t.

Magnesium-rich foods 

Leafy greens, nuts, and seeds (or a supplement) help regulate stress response.

Adaptogens 

Ashwagandha and rhodiola might help modulate cortisol.

Mindful movement 

Pilates, walking, stretching – all help bring cortisol back into check without over stressing the system.

So no, there’s no special cortisol detox smoothie that fixes everything, but there is a solid, consistent lifestyle that gently nudges your body back into balance.

Sam ‘getting on board with more sleep’ Hobbs