Cortisol, often called the “stress hormone,” plays a big role in keeping you healthy. While it’s mostly known for helping us handle stress, cortisol does much more. It affects your energy, immune system, sleep, digestion, and even how your body stores fat. However many people don’t even think about this hormone. Here’s why cortisol deserves more attention. By Madison Dohnt, founder of Modern Balance and the Balance Your Hormones Program.
What Is Cortisol, and Why Is It Important?
Cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands (small glands on top of your kidneys). Its main job is to help your body handle stress. When something stressful happens, cortisol gives you a quick energy boost, helps you focus, and prepares your body to respond. This is part of our “fight or flight” survival response.
Small bursts of cortisol are helpful, but problems happen when cortisol stays too high or too low for a long time. When this happens, it can make you feel unwell both physically and emotionally.
Signs Your Cortisol Might Be Out of Balance
Cortisol levels naturally change during the day. They are highest in the morning to help you wake up and slowly drop by bedtime. If your cortisol is not balanced, you might notice
When Cortisol Is Too High
Feeling tired even after a full night of sleep
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Gaining weight, especially around your belly
Getting sick often
Craving sugar or having energy crashes
Feeling “wired but tired”
Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
When Cortisol Is Too Low
Extreme tiredness, especially in the morning
Feeling dizzy or having low blood pressure
Craving salty foods
Trouble focusing or feeling foggy
Feeling down or unmotivated
Struggling to handle even small amounts of stress
What Causes Cortisol Imbalances?
Many things can throw off your cortisol levels, such as:
Ongoing Stress: Stress at work, in relationships, or from not sleeping enough can keep your body on high alert, causing cortisol to stay high.
Poor Sleep: Not getting enough sleep or having irregular sleep patterns can upset your body’s natural cortisol levels.
Unhealthy Food Choices: Eating too much sugar, caffeine, or processed food can stress your body. Not getting enough important nutrients can also make it harder for your body to control cortisol.
Health Conditions: Conditions like thyroid problems, PCOS, or adrenal fatigue can affect cortisol levels.
Lifestyle Habits: Sitting too much, not getting enough sunlight, or skipping relaxation time can add to the problem.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
How to Check Your Cortisol Levels
If you think your cortisol levels might be off, there are ways to test them:
Blood Test: Measures your cortisol at one point during the day. This is simple but doesn’t show how cortisol changes throughout the day.
Saliva Test: Taken at different times during the day to show how your cortisol levels rise and fall.
DUTCH Test: A urine test that checks cortisol and other hormones to give a full picture of your health.
You can order your own DUTCH urine test via the Modern Balance Clinic website here if you want to know how your cortisol is doing.
Tips to Keep Your Cortisol Balanced
The good news is that you can do simple things to keep your cortisol levels healthy:
Sleep Well: Get 7-9 hours of good sleep every night. Go to bed at the same time each night and wind down with calming activities like reading or listening to soft music.
Eat Healthy Meals: Eat whole foods with plenty of protein, healthy fats, and fibre. Try not to skip meals so your blood sugar stays steady.
Do Gentle Exercise: If you feel drained, try light activities like walking, yoga, or stretching instead of intense workouts.
Manage Stress: Use deep breathing, journaling, or mindfulness to help your body relax.
Drink Less Caffeine: Cut back on caffeine and alcohol, especially in the afternoon or evening, to avoid disrupting your sleep or stressing your body.
Get Some Sun: Spend 15 minutes outdoors each morning. Sunlight helps your body keep cortisol levels in balance.
Cortisol might not be as famous as other hormones, but it’s just as important. When your cortisol is balanced, you’ll feel more energetic, calmer, and healthier. If you think your cortisol might be out of balance, start by looking at your daily habits. Small changes can make a big difference. If you need more help, cortisol is one of two important hormones I cover in my free Hormone Balancing Masterclass. Click here to register for the next one.
Madison Dohnt is a scientist, teacher, naturopath, nutritionist, and women’s health educator who empowers women to take control of their health, understand the root cause of their symptoms, and naturally balance their hormones.
Cortisol, often called the “stress hormone,” plays a big role in keeping you healthy. While it’s mostly known for helping us handle stress, cortisol does much more. It affects your energy, immune system, sleep, digestion, and even how your body stores fat. However many people don’t even think about this hormone. Here’s why cortisol deserves more attention. By Madison Dohnt, founder of Modern Balance and the Balance Your Hormones Program.
What Is Cortisol, and Why Is It Important?
Cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands (small glands on top of your kidneys). Its main job is to help your body handle stress. When something stressful happens, cortisol gives you a quick energy boost, helps you focus, and prepares your body to respond. This is part of our “fight or flight” survival response.
Small bursts of cortisol are helpful, but problems happen when cortisol stays too high or too low for a long time. When this happens, it can make you feel unwell both physically and emotionally.
Signs Your Cortisol Might Be Out of Balance
Cortisol levels naturally change during the day. They are highest in the morning to help you wake up and slowly drop by bedtime. If your cortisol is not balanced, you might notice
When Cortisol Is Too High
When Cortisol Is Too Low
What Causes Cortisol Imbalances?
Many things can throw off your cortisol levels, such as:
How to Check Your Cortisol Levels
If you think your cortisol levels might be off, there are ways to test them:
You can order your own DUTCH urine test via the Modern Balance Clinic website here if you want to know how your cortisol is doing.
Tips to Keep Your Cortisol Balanced
The good news is that you can do simple things to keep your cortisol levels healthy:
Cortisol might not be as famous as other hormones, but it’s just as important. When your cortisol is balanced, you’ll feel more energetic, calmer, and healthier. If you think your cortisol might be out of balance, start by looking at your daily habits. Small changes can make a big difference. If you need more help, cortisol is one of two important hormones I cover in my free Hormone Balancing Masterclass. Click here to register for the next one.
Madison Dohnt is a scientist, teacher, naturopath, nutritionist, and women’s health educator who empowers women to take control of their health, understand the root cause of their symptoms, and naturally balance their hormones.
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