What is Cortisol and why is it bad?
Cortisol is the most abundant of the gluccocorticoid hormones secreted by the adrenal glands – and the most catabolic (destructive). At normal baseline levels it has several maintenance functions in the human body. However, its most profound effect is as a “fight or flight” hormone. Cortisol is secreted in substantially greater amounts in response to stress, particularly “life or death” situations. In any high stress situation, the more familiar “adrenalin” buys us the first 20 or thirty seconds of fast action, but it is cortisol that gives us an edge for the next several hours. As a survival mechanism, first appearing millions of years ago, you couldn’t imagine a more elegant adaptation.
