Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

Dr Amie Hornaman | Why You Shouldn't Fear Cortisol_ The Key to Balance

14 Nov 2024 · 0 min

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Dr. Amie Hornaman explains that cortisol is essential ("needed for life") and should not be demonized; health depends on having the right amounts and timing. She describes the normal daily cortisol curve: a morning pulse (higher cortisol to wake us), a decline through the day resembling a half-bell curve, and low levels at night to facilitate relaxation and sleep.

We almost demonize cortisol a little bit. We can't be scared of cortisol because we need it. It's needed for life. But it's all about the right amounts and pulse in the right, in the right amounts throughout the day, at the right time of day. So we want to start off by pulsing our cortisol higher in the morning. That's what our bodies naturally do to wake us up, get us going. And then if we look at a proper cortisol curve, it's almost like a half bell curve. It'll come down through the day and then really level out lower at night. And that's ultimately what we want for you to be able to kind of chill out and calm down, go to sleep.