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Acute vs Chronic Stress Effects on Cortisol in Menopause and Beyond

Author
Debra Atkinson
Published
Fri 22 Aug 2025
Episode Link
http://sites.libsyn.com/56070/acute-vs-chronic-stress-effects-on-cortisol-in-menopause-and-beyond

There is no escaping stress but cortisol in menopause changes. With that, your stress response to nearly everything may change. 

You don’t feel it at first but then there’s unexplained weight gain or belly fat. There’s less focus or concentration than you used to have. It shows up in different ways for each of us. 

 

My Guest:

Sara Banta is a Certified Dietary Supplement Professional and member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, helping people take their health into their own hands using cutting-edge natural supplements, DNA-driven nutrition, and real lifestyle solutions.

She’s the founder of Accelerated Health Products, the award-winning Most Innovative Supplement Company FOUR years running, a pioneer in functional wellness and with a passion for uncovering root causes and optimizing the body’s innate healing systems.

As host of the podcast Accelerated Health with Sara Banta—Top 10 Health Podcasts & Top 10 Supplement Podcasts—she brings science-backed insights and down-to-earth advice for natural answers.

Sara’s work is grounded in one simple truth: the body is designed to heal—when you give it the right tools. Sara is on a mission to make vibrant health accessible to everyone.

 

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

  • [00:04:14] What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?
  • [00:11:32] What is causing chronic stress?
  • [00:13:42] Why is this so critical to understand what impacts cortisol in menopause?
  • [00:15:08] How does it affect muscle gain and fat loss?
  • [00:21:59] How is the thyroid related to the adrenals?
  • [00:26:16] How can you maintain and build lean muscle while under stress over 50?
  • [00:27:31] What supplements help get your adrenals back on track?
  • [00:38:06] What lifestyle habits either kill or improve cortisol?

 

Why Cortisol in Menopause Makes Stress Feel Different

 

Acute vs Chronic Cortisol

  • Acute stress
    • Short-term, natural response to immediate danger.
    • Cortisol helps survival (fight-or-flight).
    • Immune system goes up.
  • Chronic stress
    • Prolonged, ongoing; body never recovers.
    • Chronic stress keeps cortisol elevated → negative health effects.

 

Causes of Chronic Stress in Midlife & Menopause

  • Perimenopause & menopause: the stressors don’t change, but the response to them does.
  • Common triggers: lack of sleep, poor diet, environmental toxins, over-exercise, emotional stress.

 

Cortisol’s Effect on Muscle Gain & Fat Loss

  • Elevated cortisol breaks down muscle tissue.
  • Interferes with protein synthesis, leading to muscle loss.
  • Promotes fat storage, especially visceral (belly) fat.
  • Lowers metabolism → makes weight management harder.

 

Lifestyle Solutions for Cortisol in Menopause

  • Diet: whole foods, protein-rich, healthy fats, avoid processed sugar.
  • Supplements: adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola), magnesium, vitamin C or Sara Banta’s Cortisol Reset Detox
  • Recovery: sleep, restorative exercise (yoga, walking, pilates), breathwork, meditation.

 

Connect with Sara:

 

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