Stress, Hormones, and Chronic Disease with Dr. Will Cole

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