Functional Food

Cortisol and Chronic Stress: What it Does to Your Body | Stress & Adrenals Theme Month

"Stress" is a word we use daily — but behind that single word lies an entire biochemical system that controls your body's function from moment to moment. Central to that system is one hormone: cortisol. A properly functioning cortisol curve helps you wake up in the morning, perform in the afternoon, and relax in the evening. With chronic stress, this curve becomes imbalanced — affecting energy, sleep, weight, immune system, and mood. In this article: how cortisol works, how to recognize if your curve is disrupted, and what you can do to bring it back into balance.