Cortisol Gut |

As part of our ongoing commitment to addressing women's health issues, we’ve discovered a critical concern that affects women nearly twice as often as men: the connection between cortisol (the stress hormone) and gut health. Extensive research has shown that the health of the gut plays a vital role in overall well-being. It was time to bring more attention and understanding to this issue.

Introducing the Cortisol Gut Project: Empowering Women to Improve Digestive Health

We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Cortisol Gut project, an initiative supported by the International Science and Health Foundation. Our goal is to provide women with valuable insights into the complex relationship between cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, and gut health.

The Cortisol Gut website, currently in development, will be a trusted resource for expert-driven, scientifically-backed information. It will offer practical advice and simple steps for managing stress, improving hormonal balance, and fostering a healthier digestive system. Whether you’re looking to alleviate digestive discomfort, manage stress, or just improve your gut health, the Cortisol Gut website will be the place for you.

Cortisol Gut website will be online soon!

Women’s Health Alert: Cortisol Gut

Suffering from Digestive Issues? You may have Cortisol Gut. It is Real, and it is NOT Your Fault.

Cortisol Gut: A condition arising from the body’s prolonged stress response, where elevated cortisol levels lead to significant digestive disturbances, including stomach cramps, bloating, and constipation. This response reflects the interplay between chronic stress and the gut, highlighting how ongoing anxiety can disrupt normal digestive processes and contribute to overall gastrointestinal discomfort.

Common Complaints:

Constipation, Cramps, Diarrhea
Bloating, Gas, Discomfort
Fatigue, Malaise

Does that sound familiar? You should know:

1.It is not your fault

This is the body’s natural response: during times of stress, the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to produce a hormone, which in turn signals the adrenal glands to increase the production of cortisol, the “stress chemical.”

2.You are not alone

Millions of people worldwide are dealing with this. Yet, it seems to be a condition where women are particularly afflicted: In 2023, women reported higher stress levels than men [1] and women are more likely to experience constipation than men [2]. Dr. Jeanetta Frye, a gastroenterologist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, was quoted in Time magazine stating that “women have more visceral hypersensitivity so they may feel gastrointestinal symptoms more intensely.”[3] Research also suggests that the intestine’s nerve cells are more sluggish in women and that, according to Dr. David Levinthal, a gastroenterologist and director of the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, “anxiety and depression , which are more common in women than men, can worsen the severity of disordered gut function. Feeling stressed or depressed or anxious is linked to how our guts work.” [3]

3.You do not have to suffer

More startling is that 49% of Americans report that they simply “learn to live with” their digestive issues[4], feeling as if there is no solution (or hope). Laxatives should be the last resort to force the gut back in line, while increasing activity and dietary changes[5] can lessen the impact of stress and gut health, respectively. Beyond fibers and probititics, there are herbal supplements that help to address stress and digestion.[6,7]

Physical, Debilitating Symptoms of Stress

In addition to noticing a shift in our sleep and a constant feeling of being “on edge,” one of the first symptoms a woman suffering from excessive stress will experience is slowed down or interrupted digestion, leading to uncomfortable symptoms that include bloating, constipation, and GI pain.

According the NHS, stress can cause bloating, pain, and constipation by slowing down digestion. This can happen when the central nervous system slows digestive muscle contractions and decreases digestion secretions.[5]
UChicago Medicine reports that stress can also cause bloating, diarrhea, and frequent trips to the bathroom by speeding up digestion. This can happen when the muscles involved in digestion react to stress by quickly pushing waste through the system.[8]
The Neurologic Wellness Institute explained that stress can cause a leaky gut by slowing down gut transit, which allows food, waste, toxins, and bacteria to sit in the gut and cause inflammation.[9]

Stress will not disappear, but there must be a better way to help the body deal with its impact.

For most of us, dealing with the digestive symptoms alone hasn’t been the answer. From laxatives to probiotics to fibers, these “solutions” can have unintended side effects. Laxatives, which force the body to evacuate, can have unpredictable effects and long-term use of laxatives has been linked to an electrolyte imbalance that can cause heart issues. Meanwhile, probiotics and fibers are only a partial solution that many people don’t see any results from at all.

And, most importantly, neither of these options addresses the underlying issue of stress.

A Long Window of Discomfort for Women

Menopause is the natural, permanent end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and reproductive years. However, perimenopause is the time during which a woman’s body makes the natural transition to menopause. For some women, this could be more than a decade where they begin to experience menopausal symptoms, such as menstrual irregularity, weight gain, hot flashes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, and mood changes.[10]

So while the symptoms begin rearing their head for years leading up to menopause, once a woman reaches menopause, she begins experiencing common gastrointestinal (GI) problems:

Altered bowel function: About 38% of postmenopausal women report altered bowel function, compared to 14% of premenopausal women[11].
Bloating: Abdominal bloating is a frequent complaint during the climacteric and postmenopausal periods[11].
Excessive gas/flatulence: This affects approximately 48% of postmenopausal women[11].
Acid reflux/heartburn: About 34% of postmenopausal women experience this issue[11][12].
Constipation: This is more common in postmenopausal women, with 9.4% reporting laxative usage[11][12].
Diarrhea: Some women experience increased bouts of diarrhea during menopause[12].
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms: The prevalence of IBS-type complaints peaks at 36% during the climacteric period (40-49 years)[11][14-15].
Abdominal pain/discomfort: This is a common symptom reported by menopausal women[12][14].
Bowel cramping: Menopausal women may experience increased bowel cramping[12].

And there are specific factors that contribute to women being particularly susceptible to GI issues:

Hormonal changes: The decline in estrogen and progesterone levels can affect the GI tract and digestion[12][14].
Increased stress: Higher cortisol levels due to stress can irritate the GI tract[12].
Sleep disturbances: Disrupted sleep, common during menopause, can increase cortisol production and affect digestion[12].
Changes in gut microbiome: Menopause is associated with lower gut microbiome diversity[13].
Diet and lifestyle changes: Alterations in eating habits and activity levels during menopause can impact digestive health[13].

New approaches are now being researched. For example, herbal supplements with winter cherry and okra plant extracts may help with stress, digestion and regularity{6,7}.

In conclusion, women are almost biologically predisposed to face Cortisol Gut, but no one is talking about it. It is time that women learn they are not alone in this struggle; it is indeed real, and there is no longer a reason why they should suffer silently.

References: