We discuss why stress makes you hold more water. We detail the specific hormonal changes, pathways, and physiology of chronic stress and high blood pressure. Is there anything you can do to minimize stress induced water retention?
We discuss what your circadian rhythm is and its relationship with the release of cortisol. We also explain how cortisol changes over 24 hours, how staying up later than usual impacts your cortisol level, how cortisol influences your sleep and vice versa, identify potential stressors that make your life harder, and highlight strategies to overcome these stressors.
We outline what happens when you perceive stress. What hormones change? How does your metabolism change? What are the essential roles of cortisol that help you overcome stress? We also outline what happens when you cannot overcome the stressor and chronic stress ensues. What specific changes occur in your body as a result of chronic stress? What are warning signs of stress building up? What are some underrated tips to reduce stress?
We discuss how cortisol influences protein metabolism. Special attention is given to calorie deficits, athletic vs. sedentary populations, diseased conditions, and exogenous glucocorticoid use (drugs). Where does cortisol cause more muscle loss? What is a warning sign cortisol is starting to cause accelerated muscle loss? What can you do to minimize muscle loss?
We discuss how cortisol influences fat metabolism. Special attention is given to how stress influences fat vs. carb burning, the number of total calories you burn, and body fat distribution. Stress changing where you store fat is one of the most important ways stress impacts your physique and health!
We discuss how cortisol influences carbohydrate metabolism. Special attention is given to muscle and liver glycogen, different conditions where cortisol causes you to burn more fat and less carbs or vice versa, exhausting exercise, and insulin resistance.
We give a general overview of homeostasis, stress, cortisol, how cortisol is released, how cortisol is made inactive, glucocorticoids, and target tissues for glucocorticoids. We establish the foundational principles of your stress hormone.
Here’s a list of the articles you’ll find in the anatomy and physiology section. This list is viewable for everyone (you don’t have to be a member).
We have comprehensive tables outlining normal ranges for blood and urine biomarkers. Additionally, if you get blood work and want to test for signs of metabolic adaptation, liver damage, or just assess your general health, we tell you what to ask for.
Here is a summary list of the most important points from the “Introduction to Hormones” article.
We have thorough tables detailing all major hormones, what the target of the hormone is after it is released, its functions, and what causes the hormones to be released.
How do hormones make an impact on other cells? We answer this question and look at practical examples of receptors influencing physiology such as how to increase androgen receptors (very important for gains) and insulin sensitivity. Lastly, we detail how hormones stop working after they've made an impact.
We examine how hormones are released, binding proteins that link to hormones in blood, and feedback to either stop releasing hormones or release more hormones.
We examine how hormones impact your entire body, cells, and molecules inside of cells. We also look at the 3 categories of hormones based on what they're made of.
We define key terms such as endocrinology, hormone, neurohormone, synapse, neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, chemical messenger, and many more. This is the basis for how the body communicates messages.
There’s a lot of information on this site. Here’s our recommended reading order for the anatomy and physiology portion of The Physique Encyclopedia.