Don´t let cortisol slow down your recovery
Cortisol is a stress hormone that activates catabolic processes, providing your body with energy. At midnight cortisol levels usually reach their lowest point, in the morning they reach their highest peak. Chronic stress elevates your cortisol levels. It´s like someone stepping on the gas, while you want to slow down and sleep.
The problem: Sleep is the most important time for recovery. It is the longest fat burning phase in the day, allowing the body to lower blood sugar and to refuel brain and muscles with sugar, which means with energy. High cortisol levels block this process. In the morning you feel tired and exhausted, even when sleeping healthy seven or eight hours.
During sleep the body produces the human growth hormone (HGH). This hormone is highly necessary to muscle growth, repair of muscle fibers and fat metabolism. Stress resulting in high cortisol levels during night can block the release of this human growth hormone – with negative effects on muscle growth and recovery.