Blog — mentalhealthawarness

  In the whirlwind of our daily lives, we often focus on physical fitness, but what about mental fitness? Just as we exercise our bodies to keep fit and strong, our mental well-being demands attention and care. A crucial aspect of this is managing stress, a common yet impactful adversary. Imagine stress as an internal alarm triggered by a minuscule part of our brain—the hypothalamus. When it activates, the body releases stress hormones, gearing us up to confront perceived danger. This stress response, a survival mechanism ingrained in us, can be immensely helpful. It heightens our senses, primes us for...

  By Dr. Tracy Tranchitella, ND (ZRT Laboratory) The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) is the predictable rise in cortisol within the first hour of awakening. There are two events that contribute to this dynamic rise in morning cortisol. The first is in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone output from the pituitary as a part of the normal circadian activities of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis with involvement from the sympathetic nervous system. The second occurs in response to exposure to daylight with the activation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus, which happens within 30-45 minutes after awakening and can increase cortisol...