A unique and dramatic component of the 24-hour cortisol circadian rhythm is the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). The amplitude of the CAR provides insight into the health of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. During a healthy day, the most substantial shift in the cortisol level should occur during the CAR. According to the latest research, an optimal CAR and healthy cortisol levels may reduce the risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, and many other chronic health concerns.
Most of us think of melatonin as the hormone that is required for optimal sleep. While this is true, melatonin also has a variety of other beneficial effects beyond sleep. Melatonin is known to affect the immune system, bone health, fertility, mitochondrial function, and more...
April is Stress Awareness Month, so let’s learn about the stress hormone known as cortisol! While cortisol is known as the stress hormone, it is crucial for the optimal function of your body every day. In healthy individuals, cortisol levels naturally shift throughout the day in a pattern known as a diurnal rhythm.
If you could choose, would you rather spit into a tube or have a needle jabbed into your arm to measure your hormone levels? We suspect you would rather not get stuck with a needle, and you do have a choice!
Saliva testing is a clinically accurate and convenient option when testing hormone levels. Saliva tests offer many benefits, including the fact that they are non-invasive (no needles!).
Do you enjoy watching college basketball games during March Madness every year? We do!
Around here, we also like to focus on the importance of healthy magnesium supplements in March, which we call Magnesium Madness! Our first March blog post highlighted the beneficial effects of magnesium on insulin resistance, and the Magnesium Madness continues with our second blog post for March.
