Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal glands.¹ It is essential for life but becomes problematic when chronically elevated.
Normal Functions
- •Regulates metabolism and blood sugar
- •Modulates immune response
- •Supports wakefulness and alertness
- •Part of the stress response (HPA axis)
Chronic Elevation
- •Suppressed immune function
- •Impaired digestion and peristalsis
- •Reduced HRV
- •Anxiety, sleep disruption
- •Metabolic dysfunction
In ONDA Life
One marker of Part 1 progress is "reduced levels of basal cortisol." Level 1 practices activate the parasympathetic system, which downregulates the HPA axis and allows cortisol to return to healthy baseline levels.
References
- •Sapolsky, Arch Intern Med (2004) — stress and cortisol