by: Dumitru-Dragos Mutascu In the world of health, fitness, and performance, few hormones receive as much attention as cortisol. Often labeled simply as “the stress hormone,” cortisol has developed a somewhat villainous reputation in modern health culture. Many people blame cortisol for stubborn body fat, poor sleep, muscle loss, and even burnout. While there is truth behind some of these concerns, the reality is far more nuanced. Cortisol is not inherently harmful. In fact,