It is known as the stress hormone and blamed for causing a seemingly endless list of health issues. Social media will tell you that cortisol imbalances are linked to everything from visible signs of ageing, anxiety and facial puffiness to bloating, weight gain and joint pain.
Such is the obsession with ridding ourselves of excess cortisol that you can now head to a luxury spa for a cortisol detox retreat, sign up for online exercise programs that promise cortisol lowering as part of the workout package, and even sip a cortisol cocktail containing fruit juice, coconut water and sea salt that proponents claim will reduce levels of the hormone in your body.
