bloodstream as a response to your volatile
blood sugar levels.
The trouble comes when your actions
(dietary or otherwise) tell your body that
you’re very stressed all the time. This causes
your adrenals to release cortisol all the time.
And when cortisol gets rowdy, it creates all
sorts of trouble—some of which is going to
sound awfully familiar.
Being chronically underslept, constantly
over-exercising, or experiencing chronic
psychological stress—a hallmark of modern
life—can all trigger unhealthy levels of
cortisol in the body. But so can prolonged
periods of not eating (extended fasting), or
eating too little (excessive calorie restriction).
Fasting—when you don’t eat for eight,
twelve, sixteen hours—is somewhat stressful
to the body and may elevate cortisol levels,
which only adds more stress to your already
overstressed system. Cutting too many