Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. I tested mine for three weeks, and learned the truth about it.

Key Points:

• The author tests their cortisol levels at home using Eli's Hormometer, a saliva-based kit costing $199 for 24 tests and a three-month subscription, to track the hormone's diurnal curve and explore its link to stress and common symptoms like tiredness and brain fog.
• Experts caution that cortisol is a complex hormone involved in metabolism, circadian rhythm, and inflammation, and that at-home tests lack regulation and clinical context; abnormal cortisol levels alone do not diagnose stress or health issues without professional evaluation.
• Physicians typically treat underlying conditions rather than cortisol levels directly, reserving interventions for rare disorders like Cushing’s syndrome, and advise lifestyle adjustments such as regular eating, exercise, and stress management over self-testing.
• The author found some behavioral insights from testing, such as linking caffeine and alcohol intake to cortisol fluctuations, but concludes that the tests serve more as reminders to maintain healthy habits rather than definitive medical tools.
• Ultimately, the author decides to discontinue the subscription, favoring traditional advice like eating well, sleeping more, and enjoying life over relying on cortisol monitoring apps for wellness guidance.