The Cortisol Curve - Stress and Adrenal Function

Find my favorite adrenal support supplement here: To understand stress and adrenal function, it is important to understand cortisol. Cortisol is one of the primary steroids that helps the body adapt and cope with stress. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the body’s natural alarm system. Cortisol is a diurnal hormone that follows a rhythmic secretion. Cortisol levels are highest in the morning because cortisol is responsible for waking us up from a good night’s sleep. Cortisol levels naturally decline throughout the day, and are lowest at night so that we are capable of falling asleep. The exception to this rhythmic excretion occurs with stress. When the body is stressed, the adrenal glands release greater amounts of cortisol. In a healthy person who experiences moderate levels of occasional stress, cortisol levels initially rise to aid in the stress response. After the stress is resolved, the cortisol levels return to nor