Most people have seen advertisement that for the weight loss products claiming they reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Stress causes the release of cortisol and other stress hormones and promotes abdominal fat deposition. However there's no evidence these products reduce cortisol levels. Even if they could, no study has shown that lowering cortisol reduces body fat. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is the only nutritional product that reduces cortisol. It takes at least 800 milligrams of PS to reduce cortisol. Abdominal fat deposition may be one way the body copes with stress. Several studies have found cortisol levels in men with higher waist circumference, stress promotes abdominal fat deposition, which reduces cortisol. Exercise is a good alternative because it reduces stress and abdominal fat deposition.