Wake Up with a Morning Boost of Cortisol Hormone

Many of us know those individuals who can effortlessly wake up without the need for an alarm clock. The moment their eyes open, they're up and about, ready to take on the day with enthusiasm and energy.

We often find ourselves envious of these early risers who appear to achieve what we struggle with. The secret to their wakefulness lies in a well-balanced endocrine system. For approximately 75% of the population, cortisol levels increase by about 50% at the right moment, effectively rousing them from slumber and motivating them to start their day.

However, not all of us are fortunate enough to experience such seamless awakenings. Despite going to bed at the same time every night, some individuals continue to face the daily struggle of getting out of bed in the morning.

Cortisol is often referred to as the "stress hormone," but it plays a vital role in our daily circadian rhythm, which includes waking up in the morning.

How Does Stress Change Hormone Levels?

Occasional unplanned events can cause sudden spikes in our stress levels, while ongoing chronic stress can wreak havoc on our hormonal system.

Adverse health conditions can target all areas of the body, yet often get written off as something else. For this reason, we offer comprehensive as well as simple "touchless, at-home" tests to help you on the path to getting your hormones back into balance.

Stress may be the underlying cause if you have any of these symptoms: depression, high blood pressure, insomnia, disrupted sleep, anxiety, libido loss, weight control issues, muscle and joint pain, or hair loss.

Stress can directly cause hormone imbalance.

And then hormone imbalance can make you even more stressed out! Let's explore this correlation and ways to break the cycle naturally.

Applying the Goldilocks Principle to Stress 

Stress is nature's gift. Every species needs just the right amount of it for healthy growth. 

Seedlings defy the stress of gravity, pushing out of the dirt to rapidly grow towards the sky. Chicks break out of their eggshells, thrusting into a new world of breath and sunlight.

At any moment, too much stress would sap their early life. Strangely, too little stress often means they don't develop well enough to survive.

Just the right amount of stress is needed for every living thing to remain in healthy balance with the natural world. When stress levels are "just right," we call this the Goldilocks Principle of Stress.

Getting a better understanding of how stress affects our health is the first step to boosting our wellness.

Each generation says their stress levels are too high to be healthy for cortisol hormone levels, regardless of age.

Are you between the ages of 15 and 21? Congratulations, you are part of Gen Z, the highest-stress generation. But you did not need me to tell you that.

School shootings, sexual assault, social bullying, and now COVID-19 forcing social isolation during a quarantine. No wonder you are stressed. Prolonged stress increases your health risk, often due to sustained high levels of cortisol hormones produced by your adrenal glands. 

stress, Stress & Adrenals

Continue reading

With the holiday season upon us, now is the time to examine how to avoid stress and stay peaceful regardless of the circumstances.

Too often we find the hectic scheduling and increased events of the holiday season slowly stealing away the meaning of this sweet time of year

HOW TO MANAGE HOLIDAY STRESS AND AVOID WEIGHT GAIN
with Simple Practices and Adaptogenic Herbs

Learn how to manage holiday stress to keep cravings, belly fat, and inflammation at bay. Enjoy more, stress less, and feel better by doing what is really meaningful and tapping the power of adaptogens—special herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. 

stress, Stress & Adrenals

Continue reading

Dr. Dow uses our Diurnal Cortisol test to check his adrenal stress hormone levels.

Anyone sitting too long is at risk

  By not sitting too long in one position you can prevent and avoid prolonged serious medical conditions.

Regular physical activity is a must for having a healthy heart.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s enough time to achieve some big improvements in your heart health. Now is the perfect time to get started on a new, heart-healthy game plan. Think about making one small change each week to lower sodium, get active, quit smoking, and control blood pressure to boost your heart health this month.