Balancing Act

Cortisol is infamous for being a major player in our stress response, but its role is wildly misunderstood. We'll explain, then teach you how to turn it into a tool for better wellbeing.

- JACKIE LAM

Cortisol is the Jerry Springer of hormones - involved in everybody's business and always getting blamed for the drama. To be fair, the stuff "is* connected to your body's fight-or-flight response (there's a reason it's nicknamed "the stress hormone"). But cortisol also has a role in almost every major organ system, from brain function to joint and immune health. It regulates metabolism. It works with insulin to keep your blood sugar stable. It helps quell inflammation. Notice a trend? It's not all bad!

In an age of rampant burnout, cortisol imbalance has become wellness gurus' favourite scapegoat for all kinds of health issues, such as fatigue, acne, bloating and more - leading to widespread misinformation about how this particular hormone works and what's considered healthy and normal, says Dr Arti Thangudu, an endocrinology, diabetes and thyroid specialist.

In reality, your cortisol levels go through ups and downs that correspond with your sleep/wake pattern. In the morning, they rise to raise blood sugar and blood pressure, increasing wakefulness and pumping you up for the day, then they drop off and fall to the lowest point when you sleep, explains Dr Thangudu. When you eat, workout or deal with a stressor (think: a new project lands on your desk or your babysitter cancels last-minute), you experience a tiny uptick. These natural ebbs and flows are appropriate and fine, says endocrinologist Dr Elena Christofides. Health problems only occur when you mess with the larger natural pattern of cortisol flow, like pulling an all-nighter a few days in a row. (Yes, an off-kilter cycle can affect sleep, digestion and fat storage, says Dr Thangudu.)