Cortisol is having a moment.
Across the wellness industry, conversations around stress hormones have moved from niche endocrinology into the mainstream — and for good reason. As more women enter perimenopause, many are noticing changes that don’t quite respond to diet or exercise alone: stubborn weight gain, fractured sleep, constant low-grade stress or a feeling of being “wired but tired.”
Often, cortisol is part of the picture.
What Is Cortisol — and Why It Matters More in Perimenopause
Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone. It is produced as part of our normal emergency mechanism. We should only produce cortisol in acute situations and environments, not on a daily, chronic basis.
It plays an essential role in:
-Regulating energy and blood sugar
-Supporting metabolism
-Helping the body respond to physical and emotional stress
In healthy rhythms, cortisol naturally rises in the morning to help us wake and focus, then gradually declines through the day.
During perimenopause, however, hormonal fluctuations — particularly changes in oestrogen and progesterone — can disrupt this rhythm. The result may be cortisol levels that remain elevated for longer than intended.
Overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol can lead to:
-Elevated blood pressure & cholesterol
-Hormonal imbalances
-Inflammation
-Poor mineral absorption
Hormone signalling is part of a complex system featuring feedback loops. Hormone fluctuations during the peri/menopausal transition can feedback to the body a state of emergency i.e. elevated stress and the consequential stress response (cortisol).
What High Cortisol Can Look Like in Perimenopause
High or dysregulated cortisol doesn’t always feel dramatic. More often, it shows up quietly — layered into daily life.
Common signs may include:
-Weight gain around the midsection, even with unchanged habits
-Poor or fragmented sleep, especially waking between 2–4am
-Persistent fatigue despite adequate rest
-Increased anxiety or emotional reactivity
-Digestive discomfort or bloating
-Cravings for sugar or caffeine
When cortisol remains elevated, the body prioritises survival over repair — slowing metabolism, impairing digestion and making it harder to access stored energy efficiently.
Why Cortisol Is a Wellness Industry Focus Right Now
Recent wellness trends have shifted away from extreme optimisation toward nervous system regulation. Burnout, chronic stress, and hormonal transitions are now recognised as deeply interconnected.
In perimenopause, this matters even more. As reproductive hormones fluctuate, cortisol can become the dominant regulator — influencing weight, sleep, immunity and mood.
Rather than “doing more,” the emerging consensus is about supporting the body to feel safe and supported again.
Stress, Metabolism & the Cortisol Connection
Cortisol and metabolism are closely linked.
Chronically elevated cortisol can:
-Increase blood sugar levels
-Interfere with insulin sensitivity
-Encourage fat storage, particularly viscerally
-Disrupt appetite and satiety signals
This is why weight gain during perimenopause can feel resistant to traditional approaches. The body is not malfunctioning — it is responding to perceived stress.
Supporting Cortisol Naturally Through Daily Foundations
Managing cortisol isn’t about eliminating stress — it’s about improving resilience.
Nutrition plays a critical role here. When the body is consistently nourished, stress responses become more measured and recovery improves.
The Super Elixir™: Foundational Stress Support
The Super Elixir™ is formulated with over 40 powerful, whole food ingredients, designed to support the body’s response to stress at a whole-system level.
Its formulation helps support:
-Energy production, reducing reliance on stress hormones
-Digestive health, which is closely tied to cortisol signalling
-Immune resilience, often compromised under chronic stress
By providing broad-spectrum nutritional support — rather than targeting cortisol in isolation — The Super Elixir™ helps the body manage stress naturally, creating the conditions for steadier energy, improved digestion, and resilience.
Taken daily, it supports the systems cortisol influences most — without overstimulation or depletion.
Beyond Nutrition: A Cortisol-Aware Lifestyle
Supporting cortisol during perimenopause is as much about routine as it is about nutrients. Small, repeatable practices help retrain cortisol’s natural rise and fall.
Helpful practices may include:
Gentle, consistent movement rather than high-intensity overload
Regular meals to support blood sugar stability
Morning light exposure to reinforce circadian rhythm
Evening wind-down rituals that signal safety to the nervous system, including WelleCo’s awarded Evening Elixir, a delicious, 13-calorie hot chocolate with 14 premium, organic ingredients including collagen for glowing skin and magnesium to support quality sleep.
Reframing Cortisol in Perimenopause
Cortisol is not the enemy.
In perimenopause, it often becomes louder because other hormonal signals are shifting. Listening to it — rather than fighting it — allows women to respond with compassion and intelligence.
When stress is supported rather than suppressed, the body can return to balance.
If you’re navigating perimenopause and feeling constantly stressed, depleted or out of sync, it may not be about willpower or discipline.
It may be cortisol signalling for support.
Through daily nourishment, gentle rhythms and whole-system care, stress hormones can soften — making space for better sleep, steadier energy, and a metabolism that feels supported again.