The stress hormone explained in plain English – no biology degree required
What Is Cortisol? The Body’s Built-In Alarm System
(And How to Stop It Ringing All Day)
(And How to Stop It Ringing All Day)
Cortisol isn’t bad — it wakes you up, gives you energy, and helps you handle tough moments. Problems only start when it stays high all day. Here’s exactly what cortisol is, how it works, and 6 dead-simple habits that bring it back to normal — fast.
Cortisol 101 – The 60-Second Version
- QuestionWhat is it?AnswerA hormone made by your adrenal glands (two tiny hats on top of your kidneys)
- QuestionMain jobsAnswerWake you up, turn food into energy, help you react fast in emergencies
- QuestionNormal patternAnswerHigh in the morning → drops all day → very low at night
- QuestionWhen it goes wrongAnswerStays high 24/7 → “wired but tired”, belly fat, bad sleep, anxiety
How Your Body Turns Stress Into Cortisol
(5-Step Chain)
(5-Step Chain)
Brain spots danger (deadline, argument, loud noise)→
amygdala hits the alarm button
Hypothalamus
yells at the pituitary gland
Pituitary
releases ACTH into the blood
Adrenal
glands pump out cortisol
Cortisol
gives you super-hero energy… but only meant for minutes, not hours
The whole system is called the HPA axis — your personal stress highway.
The Natural Daily Cortisol Curve
(What It Should Look Like)
(What It Should Look Like)
- 6–8 am → big healthy peak (you feel awake and ready)
- Noon → already dropping
- 4 pm → nicely low
- 10 pm → almost zero (so you can fall asleep easily)
If your curve looks flat in the morning and high at night → classic sign of chronic stress.
6 Everyday Habits That Lower Cortisol Naturally (Most Work in Minutes)
Habit | How fast it works | How to do it today |
Morning sunlight | 10–15 min | Step outside or sit by a window right after waking |
Protein + complex-carb breakfast | 30–60 min | Eggs + oats, Greek yogurt + berries, toast + avocado |
Drink water steadily | All day | Keep a bottle on your desk, sip every 30 min |
60-second 4-4-8 breathing | Instantly | In 4, hold 4, out 8 — repeat 5 times when stressed |
Short movement breaks | 5–10 min | Walk around the block or stretch every 90 minutes |
Dim lights + no screens after 8 pm | 30–60 min | Switch to warm lamps, read a real book instead |
Start Resetting Your Cortisol Today – Pick Just One
- Stop Stress Day® — provides magnesium and selected B-vitamins to support normal psychological and nervous-system function.
- Stop Stress Night® — combines valerian and hops (on-hold EU claim ID 2680) together with lemon balm (on-hold EU claim ID 2302) for natural evening calm.
Open the curtains wide tomorrow morning and drink a big glass of water — that’s it. Two tiny actions that tell your body: “Everything is okay, you can turn the alarm down.”
Many people notice the biggest difference when they also give the body the exact nutrients it uses to keep cortisol in check.
That’s why a simple routine with Stop Stress® Day in the morning and Stop Stress® Night in the evening has become so popular:
Together they help your cortisol curve look normal again: strong and awake in the morning, calm and ready for bed at night.
Start with just morning sunlight tomorrow — and if you like, add the Stop Stress® duo to make the calm feel completely natural. Thousands already do, and most feel the difference in energy and mood within days.
Start with just morning sunlight tomorrow — and if you like, add the Stop Stress® duo to make the calm feel completely natural. Thousands already do, and most feel the difference in energy and mood within days.
References and Further Reading
European Food Safety Authority. (n.d.). EU register of nutrition and health claims made on foods. https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition/nutrition-and-health-claims/eu-register-health-claims_en
McEwen, B. S. (1998). Stress, adaptation, and disease: Allostasis and allostatic load. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 840(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb09546.x
Porges, S. W. (2022). Polyvagal theory: A science of safety. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 16, Article 871227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.871227
McEwen, B. S. (1998). Stress, adaptation, and disease: Allostasis and allostatic load. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 840(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb09546.x
Porges, S. W. (2022). Polyvagal theory: A science of safety. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 16, Article 871227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.871227
Get in Touch
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Latvia
Brivibas gatve 369 k-2, Riga
t.: +371 67 323 499
hello@stopstress.de
Brivibas gatve 369 k-2, Riga
t.: +371 67 323 499
hello@stopstress.de
Disclaimer:
The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have any medical condition, please consult your healthcare professional before use.
Learn more about our quality and manufacturing standards.
The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have any medical condition, please consult your healthcare professional before use.
Learn more about our quality and manufacturing standards.