There is a lot of talk on the Internet (and in research!) these days about cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, why it’s bad for your health, and what you can do to lower your cortisol levels. According to Psychology Today, cortisol is a hormone released “in response to fear or stress by the adrenal glands as part of the fight-or-flight mechanism.” When the hormone is released, the body is ready and mobilized for action — fight (utilizing the physiological resources necessary to face a threat head-on) or flight (utilizing the physiological resources necessary to get away from said threat.)