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Phosphatidylserine is a supplement that has recently gained fame as one of the most effective Cortisol-blockers on the market.
This natural compound is present in all of the cell membranes in the body and plays a vital role in keeping your cells healthy, functioning and communicating well.
One of the secondary effects of this phospholipids is that it helps to reduce the harmful effects of excess cortisol in the body.
How does Phosphatidylserine lower Cortisol levels and what are the benefits and side effects of this supplement?
Memory
Neuron Function
Mood- Supports memory function & cognition
- Boosts neuron health & communication
- May improve mood, sleep & relaxation
What is Cortisol?
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Cortisol is a stress hormone that the body needs to regulate stress responses in the brain so you can respond to external stimuli.
In a “fight or flight” situation, this chemical messenger is released by your adrenal gland into the blood stream.
Cortisol plays a role in regulating blood pressure as well as glucose utilization. This ensures that your body is capable of reacting as fast as possible with heightened energy and alertness.
It tells your brain and body to prioritize certain short-term functions while other long-term maintenance tasks might be temporarily inhibited. This can be a positive reaction in many instances to help you deal with immediate stressors.
However, when cortisol levels remain elevated in the blood for long periods of time it can lead to significant disruption of sleep patterns, mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression, damage to your cells and even weight gain.
Excess cortisol can speed up the aging process and lead to increased risk of several diseases and conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure, low bone density and a suppressed immune system. Additional issues connected to increased cortisol involve adrenal gland fatigue, obesity, low energy and memory impairment.
Phosphatidylserine Blocks Cortisol
Phosphatidylserine is a natural nutrient that has been found to block the harmful effects of cortisol. This phospholipid (a type of fat) is present in every single cell membrane within your body. It is vital to cellular communication and the transfer of materials in and out of the cells, acting as a type of gate-keeper.
Phosphatidylserine is produced by the body itself in very small amounts, however supplementation can ensure that we obtain enough to maintain good overall health and avoid deficiency.
Top Phosphatidylserine Supplements
Phosphatidylserine works to control cortisol levels and eliminates many of the negative effects associated with elevated levels. Phosphatidylserine is considered to be a “cortisol blunting supplement” because it negates the effects of this hormone so that cells function normally and the immune system is not overly taxed.
This can improve mood, promote better sleep and alleviate insomnia, help to control cholesterol levels and support weight loss. Studies show that a 400mg dosage of Phosphatidylserine is the most effective for keeping cortisol levels in a healthy balance.
High levels of stress can quickly deplete Phosphatidylserine levels which is why this supplement is especially important when engaging in any type of stressful activities.
Using Phosphatidylserine when Exercising
Phosphatidylserine is a common component of supplement stacks for high-performance athletes and bodybuilders. They use this supplement to promote faster recovery after a training session or a competition.
Exercise is a primary cause for the release of cortisol. This is because exercise (especially anaerobic workouts) places the body under stress, from which it needs to recover. Those who exercise on a regular basis often have levels of cortisol that are much higher than normal.
Phosphatidylserine capsules (like PS100) are able to reduce post workout exercise induced cortisol. Those who use it engaged in athletic training will most likely see faster recovery times, improved fat loss, and muscle repair. Using Phosphatidylserine with moderate exercise to high intensity training can lead to a number of additional benefits.
Supplementation will result in higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol. Since many sports scientists use the ratio of between cortisol and testosterone as an indicator of how easily the body will build muscle mass, this is positive for anyone who is involved in physical training or athletics.
Who Else Should Take Phosphatidylserine?
The benefits of Phosphatidylserine make it an invaluable supplement for a number of additional groups of people.
Anyone who is on a diet or is trying to lose weight should use this supplement since fat loss is one major precursor of heightened cortisol levels.
Mental stress is another cause that can lead to the release of excess cortisol. A number of studies have shown that mental stress can be just as damaging, if not more so, than physical and exercise-induced stress in terms of cortisol release.
Individuals diagnosed with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depression, insomnia and other sleep disturbances can all benefit from a daily dosage of Phosphatidylserine to control cortisol. It may be even more effective if paired with the supplements inositol and choline.
This supplement also offers benefits to those who want to slow down aging or improve their brain performance.
- Supports healthy memory and thinking
- Boosts neuron function and communication
- May support mood, sleep and relaxation
Additional Effects of Phosphatidylserine
The highest concentration of Phosphatidylserine is found within the brain. Of the estimated 60 grams contained throughout the average human body, half of this amount is located in the brain.
Neurons in the brain and central nervous system contain a lot of lipids in order to protect themselves from damage and facilitate the chemical communications needed to transfer information between cells. This supplement is thought to make up approximately 10 percent of the total lipid content of neurons.
There are several different beneficial effects from taking Phosphatidylserine supplements in addition to reducing cortisol levels. Once inside the brain, this nutrient is capable of increasing acetylcholine levels.
Acetylcholine is a prominent neurotransmitter that controls many functions related to memory, learning, processing information and sustaining attention. Phosphatidylserine helps to increase the availability of Choline within neurons, which acts as a precursor to Acetylcholine.
Phosphatidylserine further helps brain cells to metabolize glucose which is necessary for fueling the many millions of cellular functions and transmissions that occur every second. For this reason, Phosphatidylserine is able to increase communication between cells in your brain. This occurs because it promotes an increase in membrane receptor sites that are available for receiving messages.
Additionally, this supplement is thought to increase the fluidity of cell membranes, allowing for an increased ability of cells to send and receive chemical communications. All of these factors help to promote better whole-body health and better brain functioning in individuals who take Phosphatidylserine to reduce cortisol levels.
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