THE TAKEAWAY: Cortisol is an essential glucocorticoid hormone, not a toxic byproduct. Health lies in preserving its naturally steep diurnal curve rather than suppressing it.
Cortisol naturally peaks shortly after waking (the Cortisol Awakening Response) to mobilize energy, clear adenosine, and regulate blood pressure, before steadily tapering off toward midnight. Viral claims blaming everyday fluid retention solely on "adrenal fatigue" oversimplify endocrinology. Disrupted sleep architecture, chronic caloric restriction, and unmanaged psychological stress disturb the rhythm's slope—not the hormone itself.
