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NOW® Super Cortisol Support Review

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The NOW Health Group is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and has been in business since 1968. They produce a wide variety of vitamins and supplements, as well as health and beauty products and food products both organic and non-organic.

A bottle of 90 capsules (30-day supply) of NOW^® Super Cortisol Support costs around $15.00 on Amazon, or $29.99 via a link on the NOW Health Group main website. Recommended dosage is 3 capsules throughout the day for the most effective results.

NOW® Super Cortisol Support Claims

The company claims the product is “a proprietary herbal combination, to support healthy adrenal function, relieve stress, and promote healthy eating patterns.” [3]

The adrenal glands help the body respond and adjust to physical, mental, and emotional stressors through the production of cortisol. When stress becomes a part of everyday life, cortisol and blood sugar, and consequently appetite and body weight, may become difficult to manage. [3]

As with most supplements, which are not strictly regulated by the US FDA, the product page includes the standard disclaimer: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

NOW^® Super Cortisol Support Ingredients

Vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Carbonate + Ascorbate, Magnesium, Chromium, Relora^®– a patented blend of Magnolia Bark and Phellodendron Bark, Green Tea extract, Soy Lecithin, Ashwagandha Extract, Holy Basil Extract, Reishi Mushroom Powder, Rhodiola Extract, and Banaba Extract.

NOTE: Relora is listed as the main ingredient at 200mg per capsule. Magnolia Bark has been used in Chinese medicine as an anti-stress and relaxation promoter, among other things. Phellodendron Bark has been used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammation and bone pain (and should not be taken if you’re pregnant). But very little Western research has been done on either as promoting cortisol control or weight loss. [6] [7]

The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind NOW® Super Cortisol Support

Many know cortisol as the stress hormone, due to its ability to respond accordingly in uptight situations. But it is much more complex than that. The function of cortisol in the body is crucial to everything from regulating the blood sugar, metabolism, and blood pressure, to caring for a fetus during pregnancy. Cortisol is created in the adrenal glands and is controlled by the hypothalamus for secretion.[1] It also helps with central nervous system activation, anti-inflammation in the body, and heart and blood vessel tone and contraction. [2]

Cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, with a high around 8 am and a low around 4 am. The problems happen when the adrenal glands produce too much cortisol for long periods of time—usually due to stress—and is always on a high, which causes adrenal fatigue. The body never has a chance to get into its proper rhythm, which will eventually cause health problems later on.

Because cortisol is naturally produced in the body, supplements on the market today offer help to control cortisol levels. NOW^® Super Cortisol Support is one of them.

But there is little supporting evidence as to whether this supplement actually works effectively in the body. According to Shannon Hyland-Tassava at LiveStrong.com,

While more research is needed, some evidence suggests that chronically elevated cortisol is related to weight gain. Columbia University explains that high cortisol levels can cause increased appetite, and also promotes excess fat storage in the abdominal area. According to the University of New Mexico Department of Exercise Science, cortisol encourages increased consumption of sugar and fat by influencing the hypothalamus, which controls appetite. Whatever its pathway, excessive cortisol puts you at risk for weight problems and even obesity. [5]

With limited research on the science behind the supplement, NOW Health Group offers cortisol level support in capsule form. They claim by taking this supplement on a regular basis your body will not produce large amounts of cortisol, which would in turn prevent stress-related snack cravings. Hyland-Tassava at LiveStrong.com also states,

These products’ manufacturers claim that, since too much cortisol leads to weight gain, blocking your body’s production of this hormone will help you lose unwanted pounds. However, so far, scientific evaluation of these products has not confirmed the claims. Diet pills advertised as cortisol reducers do not seem to be effective at promoting weight loss, says MayoClinic.com. [5]

So the only way the supplement would work is if it truly controlled cortisol production, which in turn might not give you intense cravings that cause weight gain. To date, there simply isn’t any verified research that it does.

Word on the Street About NOW® Super Cortisol Support

An all-natural supplement claiming to aid in healthy eating patterns has my attention, but what do paying customers who actually try NOW^® Super Cortisol Support think of it?

One anonymous Amazon Customer said, “This cortisol supplement is great so far! It has had zero side effects and I feel like it has helped with cravings, as I’ve been taking it about three weeks now. For the very stressful and active mom lifestyle, I would highly recommend it.” [4]

“Elizabeth” said, “I really didn’t notice a difference at all while taking these. Many people commented that they lost weight but I found no difference in measurements or weight.” [4]

Finally, “B.D. White” said, “I have taken this supplement now for two months and, frankly, I am not sure if there is any change to my health. I have put myself on a 3 month trial of the supplement and will then reevaluate.” [4]

Now, it is possible that the idea of the supplement might be enough to make people feel less stressed, which in turn might help with their weight management in the long run. Sometimes the mere thought of taking the right action for your health is enough to help the situation. The reviews may suggest this: some people said the supplement truly helped them feel better, while others really could not tell a difference.

The supplement itself has all-natural ingredients, and there are no known side effects which would cause discomfort for anyone (except if you are pregnant). Which is good, but there is a lack of research done on its effectiveness.  Many people who purchased the supplement felt like it was doing nothing in their bodies.

The Bottom Line

Is NOW Super Cortisol Support Worth A Try?

Depends. There are no real threats to trying out this product if you feel like your life is overly stressful and you cannot contain snacking when those situations happen. While not everyone saw an effect with the supplement, some people mentioned they did feel better when taking it. Sometimes the mental effect is enough to help someone out in a stressful time. There is little to no research on whether this supplement and its ingredients truly do help control cortisol levels in the body, so it makes me question the product’s overall effectiveness. But with a relatively cheap price tag, you’re not risking much to give it a try. (Again, do NOT take it if you’re pregnant.)