Morning Cortisol Regulation Tips from Vogue Experts
Psychologist Brenda de la Peña and cardiologist Anu Lala, MD, advise against reaching for your phone or coffee immediately upon waking to avoid exacerbating the natural cortisol spike. De la Peña recommends a nutritious breakfast and connecting with nature to stabilize cortisol. Lala emphasizes that chronic stress activation, not a single stressful morning, leads to health issues like hypertension and insulin resistance. Naturopath Mary Delberghe notes that coffee should be consumed after breakfast and suggests herbal teas or matcha instead. Experts agree that personalized morning rituals, such as slow breathing or gratitude practice, can reduce sympathetic activation.
Key facts
- Cortisol is a steroid hormone that naturally spikes in the morning to help wakefulness.
- Brenda de la Peña is a psychologist quoted in the article.
- Anu Lala, MD, is a cardiologist at Mount Sinai.
- Mary Delberghe is a naturopath and hormone expert based in France.
- The article recommends avoiding cell phone use immediately after waking.
- Coffee should be consumed about 90 minutes after waking or after breakfast.
- Chronic stress activation can lead to elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
- Connecting with nature can reduce brain activation to alpha and theta waves.
Entities
Institutions
- Mount Sinai
- Vogue
- iThrive
Locations
- France