Stress, Hormones, and Chronic Disease with Dr. Will Cole
Episode description
Dr. Will Cole is the featured guest this week on the DUTCH Podcast and he and Jaclyn Smeaton, ND (DUTCH Chief Medical Officer) discuss chronic disease and its relationship to inflammation, stress, and hormone imbalances.
Many patients with chronic disease have some HPA axis dysregulation. And the whole endocrine system is affected by poor cortisol function. Chronic stress can lead to the overproduction of cortisol, which is probably why this hormone is often labeled as “bad”.
In reality, a cortisol increase can be seen as a marker for other issues in the body, such as chronic stress or illness. Dr. Cole and Dr. Smeaton discuss the Goldilocks principle of keeping cortisol levels “just right”.
Dr. Cole’s Favorite Lifestyle Recommendations to Support HPA Axis Function
- Holy basil
- Ashwagandha
- Lion’s mane
- Forest bathing
- Caring for spiritual needs
- Grounding
DUTCH Plus Info Sheet
https://dutchtest.com/info-dutch-plus/
DUTCH CAR (cortisol awakening response)
https://dutchtest.com/info-dutch-plus/#cortisol-awakening-response
Dr. Will Cole’s website
https://drwillcole.com/
Dr. Cole’s latest book
https://drwillcole.com/gut-feelings
Find Dr. Cole on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/drwillcole/
Sections and Timestamps
00:00 Intro
04:02 Dr. Cole asks if canine patients can use the DUTCH Test?
05:10 What sparked Dr. Cole’s interest in chronic disease treatment
08:17 Hormones play a huge part in the reason a patient feels poorly
11:02 HPA axis dysregulation
15:09 Which came first—HPA axis dysregulation or illness?
17:29 Dr. Cole’s favorite DUTCH Test biomarkers
20:57 Dr. Cole’s lifestyle recommendations to support HPA axis
24:40 Thyroid issues and functional medicine approaches
30:46 Outro