Boost Your Energy & Immune System with Cortisol & Adrenaline

This episode I describe the biology of two essential hormones we all make: cortisol and adrenaline (also called epinephrine). Cortisol and adrenaline powerfully regulate our levels of energy, focus and immune system function. I describe various science-supported tools and practices to increase or decrease cortisol and/or adrenaline, depending on one's specific needs and goals. I also describe the biology of nootropics, and how cortisol and adrenaline can improve or degrade learning. Finally, I review the scientific data and tools for timing the release of these hormones to improve memory, energy and immune system function. Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction   00:00:31 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up   00:05:41 Energy & Your Immune System, & Learning Faster   00:08:34 Why & How Intermittent Fasting Increases Growth Hormone   00:11:56 Why Your Stomach Growls   00:13:09 Hot Baths & Hormones   00:14:35 Energy, Adrenaline (Epinephrine), & Cortisol   00:15:48 Cortisol & Cholesterol, Competition With Testosterone & Estrogen   00:17:54 Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Is Your (Immune System’s) Best Friend   00:18:48 Cortisol Basics In Two (Actually 1) Minute/s   00:19:48 Adrenaline Basics In Two Minutes   00:21:32 Tool: Time Your Cortisol Peak To Waking Using Specific Light Intensities   00:27:20 Brief Increases In Cortisol & Adrenaline Boost Energy, Focus & Immunity   00:30:04 Ways To Increase Adrenaline, Epinephrine & Cortisol & Why That Is Good   00:35:00 Does Mindset During Stress Matter?   00:36:15 Protocols: Adrenaline Breathing Described   00:39:00 Practices To Increase Energy Without Increasing Stress   00:45:00 Using Stressors to ENHANCE Our Immune System: Science & Tools   00:55:11 Timing Thyroid Release For Energy   00:57:02 Adrenaline/Stress Increase Performance & Memory. IF They Are After Learning   01:02:45 An Optimal Learning Protocol   01:03:20 Coffee Changes Your Brain & Increases Connectivity Of “Anxiety Circuits”   01:05:43 Nootropics: Two Kinds, & How & Why They Work, “Neural Energy”   01:09:00 Biology of Comfort Foods: From Negative to Positive Feedback Loops   01:14:00 Bombesin: Energy Without Eating   01:15:00 How Stress Makes Our Hair Gray, & How To Prevent Stress-Induced Graying   01:18:05 Blunting Chronic Cortisol, Including: Ashwagandha & Science Of   01:25:50 Licorice Increases Cortisol & Blood Pressure, & Reduces Testosterone (by Glycyrrhizin)   01:28:50 Apigenin: Anti-Cortisol   01:29:53 Protocols For Optimizing Energy & Immune System Function (& Learning)   01:37:00 When Fasting, Exercise, Cold & Intense Breathing Become Detrimental   01:39:00 Prescription Compounds   01:39:47 Tools For Accessing Alert & Calm States of “Energy”: Separating The Brain & Body   01:42:11 Ways To Apply Knowledge Presented Today   01:43:20 No-Cost Ways To Support Us, Feedback, Sponsors, Patreon, Partners, “Office Hours”   Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices