Charles Poliquin's Biosignature Modulation - What Your Body Fat Tells You About Your Hormone Profile

Cortisol site

Umbilicus

Cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, is often referred to as the "stress hormone" because it is involved in the response to stress. It increases blood pressure, blood sugar levels and has an immunosuppressive action. It acts as a weak form of adrenaline in stressful, yet non-life threatening situations, and is responsible for waking you up in the morning.

The cortisol site, known as the umbilicus, has the most scientific research behind it at the present time. The skin fold value of the umbilicus is a reflection of long-term cortisol output. It is a marker both for how much cortisol is produced in relation to stress, as well as how well the individual deals with their stress.

This site is typically high, even when the other sites are low, because of the enormous amounts of stress that we confront in today’s society without proper outlets for it’s release. Simply put: in the old days, while it was true that the stresses were frequently more immediately life-threatening – 10,000 B.C.’s saber tooth tiger comes to mind – they were frequently short lived: you either got torn limb from and limb and eaten, or you prevailed and got a great shawl out of the bargain.

Our stresses today are more low level, but no less life-threatening, because of their constancy – bosses, landlords, honking horns, loud neighbors, and – these days – heavy falling objects – all contribute to produce a low level (most of the time) yet consistent stress level that never lets up. Cortisol by itself is actually a very useful hormone; the problem is that it is chronically high in most individuals in today’s society.

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