Individuals should aim for optimal cortisol levels instead of settling for the standard normal range.

“Normal is what we tend to use in mainstream medicine. It's what I was taught to use, but I don't necessarily want to be like the average American. I want to be in a more optimal state.”

Cortisol is not inherently negative but is a vital hormone for immune function, memory, and energy regulation that should be elevated in the morning and minimized at night.

“it turns out that the two hormones that dominate those processes of having enough energy and having a healthy immune system are cortisol and epinephrine”