Using Cortisol & Adrenaline To Boost Our Energy & Immune System Function [d6f5fd]
Post Time: 2025-07-29
Maintaining a healthy blood sugar range is essential for our overall health, and it's not just about managing diabetes. A balanced blood sugar level plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, from energy production to brain function.
The Science Behind Normal Blood Sugar Range Explained A normal blood sugar range for adults typically falls between 70-99 mg/dL after an overnight fast. However, this can vary slightly depending on factors such as age, weight, and physical activity level. When our bodies produce insulin, it helps to regulate blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells. Conversely, insulin resistance occurs when our bodies become less responsive to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Inadequate sleep quality can disrupt this delicate balance, causing a rise in cortisol levels and exacerbating stress-related fluctuations in blood sugar. This is because cortisol triggers the release of stored energy (glycogen) into the bloodstream, further increasing blood glucose levels. Furthermore, prolonged periods of insulin resistance can lead to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.
How Blood Sugar Range Affects Your Mental Clarity and Mood Blood sugar imbalances have been linked to a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders and depression. Studies suggest that fluctuations in blood sugar may influence neurotransmitter release and brain function, contributing to mood disturbances (1). Research also indicates that individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia due to the chronic inflammation associated with hyperglycemia.
The Link Between Stress and Blood Sugar Range Fluctuations Stress can cause a significant increase in blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These hormonal changes trigger physiological responses that ultimately raise blood glucose levels (2). In addition, studies have found that chronic stress is associated with decreased insulin sensitivity and increased glucagon secretion – further contributing to elevated blood sugar.
The Best Supplements for Maintaining a Healthy Blood Sugar Range Certain supplements may help support healthy blood sugar regulation by improving insulin sensitivity or enhancing the body's natural glucose-lowering mechanisms. Chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, and berberine are among the most promising supplements in this regard (3). Additionally, maintaining an optimal weight through exercise and balanced nutrition can also improve insulin sensitivity.
How to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Range Effectively Self-monitoring blood sugar levels is essential for individuals with diabetes but equally important for those at risk. Regularly checking your levels will provide insight into how different factors such as diet, stress, or sleep quality impact your overall health. Monitoring techniques include using a glucometer or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system.
Maintaining an optimal blood sugar range requires dedication and understanding of the interconnectedness between various bodily functions – from insulin sensitivity to mental clarity. By staying informed about how our lifestyle choices affect this delicate balance, we can unlock true vitality by supporting healthy habits that contribute to maintaining a well-regulated blood glucose environment.
References: (1) DeFronzo RA (2004). Dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia in diabetes: role of insulin resistance. American Journal of Cardiology, 94(2A), 3E-7E. (2) Lustgarten MS & Pinhas-Hamiel O (2016). Stress-induced glucagon secretion from rat pancreas in vitro is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system and catecholamines. British Journal of Pharmacology, 173(13), 2355–2364. (3) Kim S et al (2018). Berberine activates AMP-activated protein kinase to improve insulin sensitivity by inhibiting de novo lipogenesis and enhancing fatty acid oxidation in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 496(2), 345–351.
This episode I describe the biology of two essential hormones we all make: cortisol and adrenaline (also called epinephrine). Cortisol and adrenaline powerfully regulate our levels of energy, focus and immune system function. I describe various science-supported tools and practices to increase or decrease cortisol and/or adrenaline, depending on one's specific needs and goals. I also describe the biology of nootropics, and how cortisol and adrenaline can improve or degrade learning. Finally, I 222 blood sugar after eating review the scientific data and tools for timing the release of these hormones to improve memory, energy and immune system function. #HubermanLab #Science #ImmuneSystem Thank you to our sponsors InsideTracker - Athletic Greens - Headspace - Supplements from Thorne Social & Website Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: TikTok: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Links: Intermittent Fasting & Growth Hormone Mechanism: Habitual Coffee Drinking & Changes In Brain Connectivity: Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:05:41 Energy & Your Immune System, & Learning Faster 00:08:34 Why & How Intermittent Fasting Increases Growth Hormone 00:11:56 Why Your Stomach Growls 00:13:09 Hot Baths & Hormones 00:14:35 Energy, Adrenaline (Epinephrine), & Cortisol 00:15:48 Cortisol & Cholesterol, Competition With Testosterone & Estrogen 00:17:54 Adrenaline (Epinephrine) Is Your (Immune Systems) Best Friend 00:18:48 can high blood sugar cause night sweats Cortisol Basics In Two (Actually 1) Minute/s 00:19:48 Adrenaline Basics In Two Minutes 00:21:32 Tool: Time Your Cortisol Peak To Waking Using Specific Light Intensities 00:27:20 Brief Increases In Cortisol & Adrenaline Boost Energy, Focus & Immunity 00:30:04 Ways To Increase Adrenaline, Epinephrine & Cortisol & Why That Is Good 00:35:00 Does Mindset During Stress Matter? 00:36:15 Protocols: Adrenaline Breathing Described 00:39:00 Practices To Increase Energy Without Increasing Stress 00:45:00 Using Stressors to ENHANCE Our Immune System: Science & Tools 00:55:11 Timing Thyroid Release For Energy 00:57:02 Adrenaline/Stress Increase Performance & Memory. IF They Are After Learning 01:02:45 An Optimal Learning Protocol 01:03:20 Coffee Changes Your Brain & Increases Connectivity Of “Anxiety Circuits” 01:05:43 Nootropics: Two Kinds, & How & Why They Work, “Neural Energy” 01:09:00 Biology blood sugar dropping after eating of Comfort Foods: From Negative to Positive Feedback Loops 01:14:00 Bombesin: Energy Without Eating 01:15:00 How Stress Makes Our Hair Gray, & How To Prevent Stress-Induced-Graying 01:18:05 Blunting Chronic Cortisol, Including: Ashwagandha & Science Of 01:25:50 Licorice Increases Cortisol & Blood Pressure, & Reduces Testosterone (by Glycyrrhizin) 01:28:50 Apigenin: Anti-Cortisol 01:29:53 Protocols For Optimizing Energy & Immune System Function (& Learning) 01:37:00 When Fasting, Exercise, Cold & Intense Breathing Become Detrimental 01:39:00 Prescription Compounds 01:39:47 Tools For Accessing Alert & Calm States of “Energy”: Separating The Brain & Body 01:42:11 Ways To Apply Knowledge Presented Today 01:43:20 No-Cost Ways To Support Us, Feedback, Sponsors, Patreon, Partners, “Office Hours” The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac -