Any ideas on what these actually do and are they worth it? :animal3:
Cortisol Blockers?
- Thread starter Brandibeth
- Start date
I have a bit of understanding what cortisol is; however, I have a few questions to ask you.
1. What are your current fitness goals (if you do not mind me asking)?
2. What is your current physical disposition?
Are you asking this question for "general knowledge" or is there a specific reason relating to having complications within your goals? Say, like having fat loss complications, or a plateau?
I am just curious.
If its general knowledge, I can make a post on that, and post some very good articles and whatnot related to the subject.
I wish you the best in your fitness goals,
Chillen
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Cortisol is a hormone that breaks down protein. I would worry about cortisol and lactic acid buildup if you are training for too long and not on proper nutrients. Cortisol concentrations increase in higher volume exercise. Often, exercise that produces the most lactic acid build up will also create the highest cortisol release.
Do you know of any research showing this? Are you just talking about a relationship between the intensity of exercise (more intensity usually means more lactate) and cortisol release?
To the OP:
Why do you want to take cortisol blockers? do you have too high values of the hormone? If so, you should probably talk to your doc. If not, then cortisol is a hormone you need, it's not evil, although it is often displayed that way because of the catabolic effects. Without the hormone, we would die because we wouldn't be able to handle stress.
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Reading comprehension by some Mods would be great, but I regress, it doesn't happen sometimes. But this is quite okay.
I was asking about his/her physical fitness activities and physical composition 'cause I was curious. Terrible thing to ask, my gosh.
Huge crime.
I then followed with:
Usually if someone is looking for an over-the-counter remedy, there is a reason, eh? The reasons are "variable", but one of them is having some sort of problem within their fitness goals. Thus making my statement quite valid (with the correct open mind). Unearthing the reasoning behind seeking a cortisol blocker can lead into a discussion of problems experienced, or (if its determined to be general knowledge) a discussion why they may be useless within the problem (s) experienced.
Can diet/weight training manipulate cortisol without pinpointing whether good or bad: Yes.
Thus the reason I asked a brief series of questions, though it absolutely possible she/he is worrying about something she/he shouldn't be.
Support Cortisol blockers? No.
Reference comments made to Blackbeard:
Speaking in "general" (without over complicating the issue) he is correct. In general, cortisol "can" be considered an enemy to muscle growth. One of the primary effects of cortisol is to inhibit protein synthesis, so that net breakdown occurs. Additionally, cortisol inhibits AA uptake. Additionally, cortisol appears to affect muscle protein synthesis. In this regard, cortisol can be thought of as a negative in terms of growth.
However, cortisol plays other critical roles in the body, especially in terms of dealing with inflammation (etc).
I have read some material on individuals using anti-cortisol drugs, and some frequently report joint related type pain.
The breakdown of protein tissue as part of protein turnover and is a critical aspect of overall body functioning, as this serves to provide AA's where they are needed during times of stress (say diet and training, etc, etc.)--making my questions even more valid.
From what I have read on this subject matter, the main regulators of cortisol levels appears to be blood glucose and insulin levels. In general, when insulin and blood glucose are high, cortisol will be low and vice versa.
In some variable studies I have read on the subject, cortisol does not begin to have it's major effects on decreasing protein synthesis and increasing protein breakdown for at least 4 hours.
In addition, the negative effects of cortisol on protein synthesis are reversed (it seems from what I have read) with only one hour of re feeding, most likely from the elevation of insulin. Thus...the the common practice of eating every few hours is a sound strategy to minimize the effects of cortisol. Additionally, one might go even further and get up for a meal in the middle of the night, to prevent cortisol mediated protein breakdown from occurring. Alternately, the consumption of a small meal containing protein, carbohydrate, fat and fiber at bedtime should allow maintenance of blood glucose/insulin levels for at least part of the night (and this statement is a general one, not pointing to calorie allotment, eating complications, etc, etc).
Quality Cortisol research is not that difficult to find.
Use the finger tips or buy a book.
Best wishes,
Chillen
I was asking about his/her physical fitness activities and physical composition 'cause I was curious. Terrible thing to ask, my gosh.
Huge crime. I then followed with:
--because quite simply the OP could be confusing some issues, and cortisol (among many other factors) can be an enemy and a friend, dependent on what the OP is doing (in diet and fitness), and within their lifestyle.
Usually if someone is looking for an over-the-counter remedy, there is a reason, eh? The reasons are "variable", but one of them is having some sort of problem within their fitness goals. Thus making my statement quite valid (with the correct open mind). Unearthing the reasoning behind seeking a cortisol blocker can lead into a discussion of problems experienced, or (if its determined to be general knowledge) a discussion why they may be useless within the problem (s) experienced.
Can diet/weight training manipulate cortisol without pinpointing whether good or bad: Yes.
Thus the reason I asked a brief series of questions, though it absolutely possible she/he is worrying about something she/he shouldn't be.
Support Cortisol blockers? No.
Reference comments made to Blackbeard:
Speaking in "general" (without over complicating the issue) he is correct. In general, cortisol "can" be considered an enemy to muscle growth. One of the primary effects of cortisol is to inhibit protein synthesis, so that net breakdown occurs. Additionally, cortisol inhibits AA uptake. Additionally, cortisol appears to affect muscle protein synthesis. In this regard, cortisol can be thought of as a negative in terms of growth.
However, cortisol plays other critical roles in the body, especially in terms of dealing with inflammation (etc).
I have read some material on individuals using anti-cortisol drugs, and some frequently report joint related type pain.
The breakdown of protein tissue as part of protein turnover and is a critical aspect of overall body functioning, as this serves to provide AA's where they are needed during times of stress (say diet and training, etc, etc.)--making my questions even more valid.
From what I have read on this subject matter, the main regulators of cortisol levels appears to be blood glucose and insulin levels. In general, when insulin and blood glucose are high, cortisol will be low and vice versa.
In some variable studies I have read on the subject, cortisol does not begin to have it's major effects on decreasing protein synthesis and increasing protein breakdown for at least 4 hours.
In addition, the negative effects of cortisol on protein synthesis are reversed (it seems from what I have read) with only one hour of re feeding, most likely from the elevation of insulin. Thus...the the common practice of eating every few hours is a sound strategy to minimize the effects of cortisol. Additionally, one might go even further and get up for a meal in the middle of the night, to prevent cortisol mediated protein breakdown from occurring.
Alternately, the consumption of a small meal containing protein, carbohydrate, fat and fiber at bedtime should allow maintenance of blood glucose/insulin levels for at least part of the night (and this statement is a general one, not pointing to calorie allotment, eating complications, etc, etc).Quality Cortisol research is not that difficult to find.
Use the finger tips or buy a book.
Best wishes,
Chillen
Waking up is probably one of the most stressful things the body can do. Waking up in the middle of the night to eat seems a bit weird to me, since the waking up part is a huge stressor.. Then you'd have to go to sleep again and wake up again, so you'd have 2times that huge stress impact of waking than if you just slept through the night.
I will be honest here and have not read much about cortisol blocker but think it's a BAD idea unless you are prescribe by it by doctors for a medical condition. The human body is a perfect working machine. Cortisol is a nature hormone in the body, I would not screw with it especially without medical supervision. I would throw this with steriod and HGH stuff until further research.
How funny
You guys crack me up.
I know that cortisol as seen as being the "tummy fat producer". It can be caused by stress on the body and tends to store in the stomach area. I think.
Ive started weight training again and I know that the stomach is the last thing to get back into shape, and I can see a difference everywhere else, just wondering if some of the OTC cortisol blockers might be able to kick it into over drive.
You guys crack me up.
I know that cortisol as seen as being the "tummy fat producer". It can be caused by stress on the body and tends to store in the stomach area. I think.
Ive started weight training again and I know that the stomach is the last thing to get back into shape, and I can see a difference everywhere else, just wondering if some of the OTC cortisol blockers might be able to kick it into over drive.
Actually the jokes on you mate, who ever heard of getting cortisol blocking meds to stop tummy fat? Mehehehe hehe. That has to be the joke of the day. :laughing2:
Look at
Simple answer: NO.
You education should focus on below:
1. Calories
2. Macro nutrients, learn how, when to manipulate them. (micro nutrients)
3. Fitness training.
And, manipulating the three to your goal advantage. In the end, when all the ugly smoke clears, and you trade in your tears, these three will give you nothing to fear.
In case you are thinking about popping so-called fat burners. You don't need them. I have lost 40+ pounds in over a year without them, and gained 20 pounds of muscle (in two years), just following the the big three above.
This is all you need.
Best wishes
Chillen
Ok some of you thanks for the info, and others "dont be an ass". I posted this thread asking a question, and I got the answers that I needed.
I said you guys crack me up because of how you guys responded to each others posting. I posted what was told to me, hence the confusion and the "I think" at the end of it.
I do my exercise, I'm learning to eat right, and I take the vitamins and nutrients needed. If I knew everything, I wouldnt post here and ask questions. I just wanted to know what it was and what it did.
I said you guys crack me up because of how you guys responded to each others posting. I posted what was told to me, hence the confusion and the "I think" at the end of it.
I do my exercise, I'm learning to eat right, and I take the vitamins and nutrients needed. If I knew everything, I wouldnt post here and ask questions. I just wanted to know what it was and what it did.