What Is Cortisol? Understanding the Stress Hormone & How to Balance It Naturally

What Is Cortisol?

Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone, produced by your adrenal glands. It's responsible for regulating your energy, mood, blood sugar, immune response, and sleep-wake cycle. Think of it as your body's internal alarm system: when you're under stress, cortisol rises to help you stay alert and responsive.

While cortisol is essential for survival, chronic stress can lead to prolonged elevated or depleted levels of cortisol, which disrupts your overall health.

Signs Your Cortisol May Be Out of Balance

• Feeling "tired but wired"

• Anxiety or panic attacks

• Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep

• Mid-day energy crashes

• Sugar or salt cravings

• Brain fog

• Stubborn belly fat

• Frequent illness or burnout

If these sound familiar, your cortisol rhythm might be off.

Take the Free Cortisol Quiz

Not sure where you fall on the cortisol spectrum? Take our free 2-minute quiz to find out if your stress hormone is too high, too low, or dysregulated.

👉 Take the Cortisol Quiz Now

This quick quiz can help you understand your symptoms and guide your next steps.

Why Test Your Cortisol?

While a quiz is a great starting point, nothing beats real data. An at-home cortisol test measures your levels throughout the day and reveals your true stress pattern.

We recommend a simple, non-invasive test that can be done from home. It's especially helpful for people struggling with fatigue, anxiety, burnout, or poor sleep.

👉 Order Your At-Home Cortisol Test

Top Supplement for Cortisol Balance: Stress Essentials Cortisol Pro

When your stress response needs support, targeted supplementation can make a big difference. One of our top picks is Stress Essentials Cortisol Pro by NutriDyn.

This physician-formulated blend includes:

• Relora® (Magnolia & Phellodendron): Shown to reduce stress-related cortisol elevations

• Sensoril® Ashwagandha: Adaptogen that helps normalize cortisol levels

• Rhodiola + L-Theanine: Support mental clarity and calm

• Phosphatidylserine: Helps reduce nighttime cortisol for better sleep

• Maral Root Extract: Supports energy and physical resilience

👉 Shop Stress Essentials Cortisol Pro

This supplement is ideal for those who:

• Feel constantly wired or exhausted

• Struggle with focus or memory due to stress

• Have trouble winding down at night

Start Rebalancing Today

You don’t have to keep guessing what's going on with your stress hormones. With our free quiz, at-home testing, and clinical-grade supplements, you can take control of your health naturally.

👉 Take the Cortisol Quiz 👉 Order the At-Home Test 👉 Explore Stress Essentials Cortisol Pro

Let your healing start from within.

Author: Ashley Allen, NP, Functional Medicine of Delaware

This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.