Cortisol: The Good And The Bad

By Jody Smith HERWriter

Rate This

As a naturopathic physician, Dr. Carrie Louise Daenell is letting you know that while cortisol can be a good friend, when levels are out of whack cortisol is not so friendly.

When cortisol is too high at night rather than elevated nicely during the day, it can have unhealthy effects on blood sugar and on weight. She cautions that many Americans routinely live with unhealthy cortisol levels and urges you not to make this mistake.

(Transcribed from video interview)

Dr. Daenell:
Cortisol lets us know that it’s the time of day where we need to be alert and we need to have the energy to start the day. It is the opposite of something we want to have around when we’re trying to relax and sleep. Healthy cortisol levels in the early part of the day are normal.

We just don’t want to see those levels elevated at night. They help us be alert. They help us respond quickly. They can give us quick bursts of energy. Unfortunately, they also keep blood-sugar elevated, which adds to obesity concerns and pre-diabetes concerns and so you don’t want to live on it. I think Americans pretty much live on it.

About Dr. Carrie Louise Daenell, N.D.:
Dr. Carrie Louise Daenell is a licensed naturopathic physician and currently practices as a consultant in Denver, Colorado near Cherry Creek. She was previously the managing editor at the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, is the past-president of the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She conducted her pre-medical studies at the University of Colorado, in Boulder and completed her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. Additionally, she is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Visit Dr. Daenell at http://www.drdaenell.com

Video:
https://www.empowher.com/media/video/what-cortisols-role-womans-body-dr-daenell-video

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Champion

Jody Smith HERWriter View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.