The Morning Myth

CHAPTER 14 Mitigating the Health Risks of Early Rising: Stay Healthy and Let the Early Birds “Sleep When They’re Dead”

In this chapter I’m going to cover one thing, and one thing only, and how to reduce and modulate its effects: cortisol.

Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, is found to be chronically elevated in early risers as well as night owls forced to get up early. While cortisol is essential for normal functioning and you’d die a very fast death without it, having too much of it will absolutely, positively put you in an early grave. And our morning-obsessed society is killing people by forcing them to get up early and therefore keep their cortisol levels chronically elevated.

With that in mind, here are some easy and simple ways to lower your body’s cortisol levels. (Note: You should check your levels first using a diurnal saliva cortisol test kit, which can be obtained from your doctor, or online, including Amazon, with all lab fees included. I consider the occasional test a bargain in exchange for knowing where my levels are and the ability to take corrective action when they’re off.)

Eat Healthy

This probably sounds simplistic, but think about it: How often do you eat foods that are not particularly good for you?

By “healthy” I’m referring to “cortisol lowering.” This includes avoiding a high-sugar diet or simple carbs in general, avoiding trans fats and refined fats, avoiding or limiting caffeine and alcohol (duh!), making sure your nutritional needs are met with ...