The Stress Hormone - Cortisol
Kacper Nowak
2026-03-21
8 min. read
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We often read about factors affecting muscle growth, about the proper diet leading to an increase in muscle mass, but we overlook certain elements that can hinder the entire process. In this article, we will discuss one of these elements, namely, the stress hormone cortisol. Most bodybuilders fear it like fire and consider it the main adversary in the context of muscle anabolism.
The role of cortisol in the body
Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that is released by the adrenal cortex in response to physical or emotional stress (fatigue). The primary function of cortisol in stressful situations is to calm the body, which it achieves by forcing the body to suppress the immune response and end the destructive reaction to the problem. Cortisol acts in various ways, including increasing the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, affecting the function of the liver and blood vessels, and decreasing protein synthesis. During periods when the body is secreting cortisol in response to stress, the levels of glucose and amino acids decrease, leading to the breakdown of muscle fibers in order to provide the body with an alternative source of energy. Cortisol enters liver cells and connects with special proteins that are responsible for feedback, i.e. the body's reaction to cortisol and the external factors that have caused its secretion.
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