Cortisol
Cortisol is your primary stress hormone. Chronically elevated cortisol is associated with weight gain, poor sleep, anxiety, and metabolic problems.
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What Cortisol measures
Cortisol is made by the adrenal glands in a daily rhythm — highest in the morning, lowest around midnight. It mobilizes energy, regulates inflammation, and modulates the stress response. Persistent elevation usually reflects chronic stress, sleep disruption, or, rarely, an adrenal disorder.
Normal ranges
Reference ranges may vary slightly by lab. Always use the range provided on your specific test report.
What affects your cortisol level
- Chronic psychological stress
- Poor or short sleep
- Irregular sleep schedule (shift work, jet lag)
- Excess caffeine, especially after noon
- Alcohol
- Blood-sugar swings
- Cushing's syndrome (rare — but the textbook cause of pathological elevation)
Foods that may help
Dark chocolate (70%+)
Lowers cortisol response to acute stress
Green tea (L-theanine)
Promotes calm without sedation
Fatty fish
Omega-3s blunt the cortisol response to stress
Magnesium-rich foods
Magnesium helps regulate the HPA stress axis
Fermented foods
Gut-brain axis — improves stress resilience over time
When to see your doctor
Persistent symptoms — insomnia, central weight gain, easy bruising, mood changes — paired with elevated cortisol warrant endocrine workup. A 24-hour urine cortisol or a salivary cortisol pattern is more informative than a single blood draw, since cortisol fluctuates throughout the day.
Related biomarkers
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Educational content only · Not medical advice