01/11/2026
Cortisol has become one of wellness's favourite villains. Between "cortisol face", cortisol cocktails and routines promising to lower it, it's easy to assume it's something to get rid of.
In reality, cortisol is essential. It helps you wake in the morning, responds when you need to act, and rises and falls in a natural rhythm across the day. The more useful question isn't whether it's high or low, but whether that rhythm is working for you. Sleep, meals, caffeine, training and everyday pressures all play a part.
This week's Sunday read cuts through the trends. It explains what cortisol actually does, what can disrupt its rhythm, and the everyday habits worth focusing on.
Read it on the Metabolics Journal via the link in comments.