Maximizing Manduu Results, Part 3: The Importance of Cortisol

Manduu’s Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) training is safe, effective and incredibly efficient. But there are things you should be doing outside of the studio to get the most benefits from your Manduu training.

We all know stress is bad. It causes social withdrawal, headaches and depression. It hurts your sleep, motivation and the desire to exercise. And thanks to in-depth medical research, we’re starting to truly understand how hard stress can be on our bodies and minds.

According to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Americans between the ages of 25 to 64 are dealing with increasing mortality rates and falling life expectancy. The report acknowledges that life expectancy in the U.S. has increased for most of the past 60 years, but the rate of increase slowed over time—and life expectancy decreased after 2014.

Doctors at the Yale School of Medicine have concluded that the brain is particularly vulnerable to stress-induced damage. In addition, accruing adversity over a lifetime has negative consequences on the areas of the brain involved in self-control and regulating emotions.

Ok, so we know what stress can do to us. But to alleviate it, it helps to understand how stress is created in our bodies.

Our adrenal glands produce a hormone called cortisol that controls blood sugar levels, regulates metabolism, reduces inflammation and a whole lot more. Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone” because the body produces it in times of stress and anxiety.

Here’s the issue: Cortisol levels that are too high or too low can greatly affect your health, especially when it comes to losing weight, building muscle and many of the physical and mental benefits that you get when you train at Manduu.

Maintaining a steady cortisol level is a stellar way to ensure you get the most out of your Manduu workouts. Here’s how to do it:

Eat This, Not That

As mentioned above, our bodies produce cortisol in times of stress and anxiety. Cortisol increases appetite and can also boost motivation … including the motivation to eat.

In other words, too much cortisol makes us want to “stress eat.”

If stress is tempting you to rip open a bag of chips, grab a protein shake instead. Ask your trainer about our Manduu protein powder that has 28 grams of protein per serving. Protein keeps your body and brain satisfied, focused and stronger for your Manduu workout sessions.

Exercise Your Way to Equilibrium

Exercise is a great stress reliever, and relieving stress means lowering a high cortisol level. However, certain workouts that are too demanding, like HIIT, can aggravate pre-existing cortisol imbalances and cause further problems.

That’s why doctors recommend less strenuous exercise during times of stress. Manduu’s electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) training delivers an incredibly effective workout without the impact on your body that you would feel in other programs. That’s why adults of all ages and fitness levels can do it.

Curious about the science and safety of EMS training? Check out this EMS research from doctors and scientists around the world.

Get Plenty of Rest

The production of cortisol in your body is a complex process that essentially runs parallel with your sleep-wake cycle. Not getting enough sleep can throw off your circadian rhythm, which in turn throws a wrench into your body’s production of cortisol.

It is crucial that you get a good amount of sleep at night. The Centers for Disease Control says adults need seven or more hours of sleep per night.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, be sure to read the first part of this blog series for helpful tips.

Maintaining a balanced cortisol level will help you in so many facets of life and provide an extra boost to your Manduu training results.

Stay tuned for Part 4 of our Maximizing Manduu Results blog series.