The Ups And Downs Of Cortisol: What You Need To Know
Most of us associate too much cortisol with the loss of muscle and gain of more belly fat. Yuck! But too little cortisol leaves us feeling “chronically fatigued.” Neither of those things sound very appealing, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s talk about some cortisol basics and then briefly discuss what can go wrong when our levels get funky. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, also known as hydrocortisone. It’s produced in the adrenal cortex in response to stress (physical or emotional) and according to natural cycles that tend to correlate to circadian rhythms. It is made from cholesterol and its synthesis and release is controlled by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Cortisol helps us get our butts out of bed in the morning and function day to day. In the morning, cortisol rises until it peaks around 8:00am. This helps us feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. As the day wears on, it falls gradually, reaching its lowest levels around 3:00-4:00a...