Myths vs facts: Cortisol senken and Darmgesundheit

Myth: 'Lowering cortisol through gut health is a direct, scientifically proven effect.' Fact: There is mechanistic evidence that the gut-brain axis and microbiome can influence cortisol levels – e.g., via short-chain fatty acids or vagus nerve modulation. However, large-scale human studies proving a causal, clinically relevant effect are lacking. Many products (probiotics, gut tests) claim cortisol reduction, but the evidence is mostly mechanistic or from animal models. A healthy gut may indirectly improve stress perception, but as a standalone cortisol-lowering strategy, it is not well-supported. Caveat: Chronically elevated cortisol (e.g., Cushing's syndrome) requires medical diagnosis. MyBody-X does not offer a specific cortisol test; the Body-Balance Check measures testosterone, not cortisol. Gut tests do not provide cortisol values. Consumers should critically evaluate marketing claims.