How Cortisol Actually Works: Why Your Stress Hormone Acts Like a Broken Thermostat

Think your stress hormone is helping you handle pressure? Think again. Sarah Williams breaks down why cortisol starts working against you when you're chronically stressed, acting more like a broken thermostat than your body's natural defense system. On Fuel Different, we explore how cortisol resistance develops through the exact same mechanism as insulin resistance - your cells basically stop listening to the hormone. You'll discover why chronic stress makes your body more acidic (which tanks cellular function), learn how high cortisol triggers autoimmune conditions by confusing your immune system, and understand why doctors actually use synthetic cortisol to treat inflammation. This isn't just about feeling stressed - it's about how your entire body chemistry shifts when cortisol gets stuck in the "on" position. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Introduction with Sarah Williams [01:30] Why cortisol works like a broken thermostat [04:00] Cortisol resistance vs insulin resistance [07:00] How chronic stress acidifies your body [10:00] The cortisol-autoimmune connection [12:00] Natural ways to reset your stress response 🔍 Topics: wellness, mental health, nutrition, doctors, medicine, fitness ⭐ Ready to fuel different? Leave us a 5-star rating and review - it seriously helps other health-focused listeners find us. Follow Fuel Different so you don't miss our daily deep dives into the science that actually matters for your wellbeing. New episodes every day! ----- Keywords: nutrition facts, nutrition advice, dr berg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices