Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — circadian rhythm

By Dr. Allison Smith, ZRT Laboratory I would like to thank everyone who joined in our webinar on the Role of Hormones in Sleep Disturbances!  There were a number of questions I wasn’t able to address due to time constraints but they were all excellent questions. I thought at least someone would be interested in a follow-up as I speak to the rest of the questions just as a little wrap-up. Q: Wouldn't it be nice to include Dried Urine Melatonin in your ZRT Comprehensive Profile, to be able to evaluate Morning Cortisol when low? Maybe it is low while Melatonin...

As the days shorten and sunlight fades, four key hormonal systems come under pressure: vitamin D, serotonin, cortisol and melatonin. For those susceptible to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the disruption of these interconnected rhythms can trigger depression, fatigue, poor sleep and low mood. This article explains the science behind the SAD hormone pattern — and what you can do to support your body through the darker months.

The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) — the 50% surge in cortisol that occurs in the first 30 minutes after waking — is one of the most sensitive markers of HPA axis health. Discover how CAR differs from the standard diurnal cortisol curve, which conditions are linked to blunted or exaggerated CAR, and how three timed morning saliva samples can reveal adrenal function in ways a single cortisol test cannot.