Cortisol Support / The essentials
Understand your body's stress hormone.
Cortisol isn't a villain. Explore what it does, how testing works, and what the research says about supporting a healthy daily rhythm.
Start here
How to Test Cortisol Levels
Blood, saliva, and urine testing explained — and what each one can and can't tell you.
Research / 02Supplements Researchers Are Studying
An honest look at the supplements studied for stress and cortisol, and where the evidence stands.
Lifestyle / 03Lowering Cortisol Naturally
The lifestyle factors with the strongest evidence: sleep, light, movement, and stress skills.
Symptoms / 04When symptoms raise questions
Common signs people report — and what they can and can't tell you.
The bigger picture
A rhythm, not a single reading.
Healthy cortisol follows a daily curve. It peaks within the first hour after waking — that's part of what gets you going — then declines steadily through the day, reaching its lowest point around bedtime so you can sleep. When people talk about “high cortisol” or “cortisol imbalance,” they usually mean this curve has flattened, shifted, or spiked at the wrong times. That's why how and when you test matters as much as the number itself.
Frequently asked questions
- What is cortisol?
- Cortisol is a steroid hormone made by your adrenal glands. It helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle, blood sugar, blood pressure, metabolism, and your body's response to stress.
- Is cortisol bad?
- No — cortisol is essential. Concerns arise when levels stay elevated or disrupted over long periods, which research links to sleep problems, mood changes, and metabolic effects.
- How do I know if my cortisol is high?
- Symptoms alone can't confirm it, because they overlap with many other conditions. Testing — through blood, saliva, or urine — combined with guidance from a healthcare provider is the reliable way to know.
- Can I test cortisol at home?
- Yes. At-home saliva and urine test kits let you collect samples at multiple points in the day, which can show your daily cortisol pattern. A provider can help you interpret the results.