Cortisol Part I: Stop the anti-cortisol rhetoric

Morning moods and respecting "the stress hormone". First in a new series about cortisol and circadian rhythmicity.

Blaming cortisol for health problems is like blaming EMTs for accidents. It doesn't make sense. Cortisol is an endogenous (made by the body) hormone with many vital functions. Like vitamin D, another endogenous hormone, cortisol comes from cholesterol. In today's post, I will share a more welcoming and integrated view of cortisol. This is the first in a new series all about learning to appreciate the “stress hormone” cortisol.

Cortisol helps you wake up

Each day, we get up and activate our circadian systems with light and breakfast. That may be turning on lightbulbs in the house, or, better, stepping outside to greet the sun. Breakfast may be a nibble of something sweet and a gulp of caffeine, or, better, a full and savory meal. Either way, it turns on the circadian rhythm. How do you tend to feel in the morning?

Waking with a lot of mental energy in the morning can be evidence of a strong circadian rhythm. Waking and feeling sluggish can be evidence of the opposite.

One of the ways we co…