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        As we age or when we are under stress, some hormones increase and others decrease. Cortisol increases and thyroid, estrogen and progesterone decrease. This is destructive for the body, in the long run. This worsens as the person ages, as hormone production declines. The simple answer is to see an anti-aging trained physician, who can order some blood tests. These tests will evaluate hormone levels. From this, s/he can determine how to balance your hormones again. Balance of hormones improves mental and physical function, and minimising the effects of stress. These destructive effects are minimised as the body and mind are able to handle the stress better, Dr Ali Mohamed, chairman of American Academy of Anti Ageing Medicine (A4M) narrates.

        Cortisol levels can also be partially reduced through other means. These means are known to us historically: exercise and stress reduction techniques.

        Exercise can take many forms and include both aerobic and anaerobic exercises. You do not have to join a gym, as walking is great stress-reducing exercise. However, best results are obtained through regular workouts in our new, well-equipped gyms around town. A trainer can help you get started and help avoid injuries due to weakness from inactivity. Exercising every other day is the most optimal pattern. One should combine both aerobic exercises, such as the elliptical or treadmill, with resistance exercises. Weight- lifting or swimming, are resistance exercises that help strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis. Reduced levels of hormones, due either to stress or age, result in osteoporosis (weakened bones) and ease of fractures. Exercise and BHRT can prevent or treat osteoporosis, and make up for the damaging effects of stress.

        Cortisol can also be decreased by performing ancient, stress-reducing techniques: Meditation, Yoga and Tai Chi. These have been known for centuries and their popularity is returning. Again, you may need a coach to get started and you can then perform these exercises anywhere and anytime. They will help reduce cortisol levels. This is how the mind affects body in a positive way. Yoga often results in weight loss, as the cortisol is reduced and less fat is stored. The weight loss occurs even without burning up the calories doing aerobic exercises, if you are highly stressed. Meditation is also a time-tested technique for stress reduction. The efficacy of these techniques is so well accepted, that some faiths incorporate them into their belief system.

        The aim of stress reduction is to reduce cortisol levels. This can be achieved through the methods described above. However, there are also other means that rely on the principle of taking one's attention of one's problems. These can include almost anything from gardening and reading to prayer, sky diving, meditation and movies. Taking one's mind off one's problems, even for a while, allows the body to bring down the cortisol levels. Ignoring one's problems may not be healthy either, as they will remain subconsciously and will keep cortisol levels up. Out of sight is not necessarily out of mind. However, intentionally out of mind, is out of sight, allowing cortisol levels to decline and other hormone levels to increase.

        These are some practical methods for workplace or general stress reduction. Active relaxation and breathing techniques can help you cope acutely in the workplace, but the above-described techniques are more productive than simple breathing exercises. Nutrition should also be addressed. When cortisol levels rise, the body wants free sugar, in the form of glucose, and it wants it fast. So you get a message, a craving, for something sweet. You eat some refined sugar treat like mithai, digest it quickly and your sugar levels go up. This is followed by an increase in your insulin levels, which reduce the glucose levels and by storing it as fat. So, you get the craving for more sweets and are hungry. Avoid refined sugar products such as sweets, sodas and snacks.

        To summarise, have your hormone levels checked, participate in stress reduction activities and be careful of what you eat. These will help diffuse the bad effects of stress in the workplace.