Plural of cortisol; a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that regulates stress response, inflammation, and metabolism.
From cortex (Latin: bark) + -ol (chemistry suffix for alcohols). Named because it's produced in the cortex (outer layer) of the adrenal gland.
Cortisol is called the 'stress hormone,' but your body needs it constantly—it's what makes you wake up in the morning and regulates whether you feel tired or energized, meaning cortisol isn't the villain popular culture pretends it is.
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