We talk about hormones a lot on Do You Really Know, so if you’ve tuned in before, you may well already be aware that cortisol is known as the stress hormone, and it’s what helps us wake up first thing in the morning. 

That’s because it’s released in large amounts between 7 and 8 a.m. and then gradually decreases over the course of the day, hitting its lowest point around 11 p.m, just in time for us to go to bed. The main purposes of cortisol are to keep us alert, fuel movement, and tap into our energy reserves.

Why would we need to keep its levels under control? What can we do to avoid producing too much? Are there any dietary changes that could help lower cortisol levels? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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