Stress Alters Metabolic Hormone with Health Consequences, Study Shows

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 13 December 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Research from Columbia University shows that psychological stress changes a key metabolic hormone, linking emotional strain directly to energy production and overall health
People with healthy mitochondria experience a drop in this hormone under stress, while those with mitochondrial dysfunction show an increase — demonstrating how cellular energy capacity shapes stress resilience
Chronic stress overstimulates classic stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, disrupting blood sugar control, promoting fat storage, and exhausting your mitochondria — the engines that power every cell
Social isolation and loneliness were linked to higher levels of stress-related hormones, suggesting that emotional well-being and physical metabolism are deeply connected
Restoring mitochondrial balance through nutrition, regular movement, deep sleep, and meaningful connection helps calm stress chemistry, boost energy, and slow biological aging

Transcript

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0:00.0	What if the stress you feel at work, in traffic, or during a tough conversation,
0:04.0	is actually changing your metabolism in real time, shifting hormones that dictate how much energy you can make today and how fast you age tomorrow?
0:13.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:16.0	Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go.
0:21.8	No reading required. Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:27.2	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Today we're examining new research
0:32.7	showing how psychological stress alters a metabolic hormone that links your emotions to your energy production.
0:39.3	I'm Ethan Foster, and I'll guide the conversation so you can see exactly what this means
0:44.3	for your daily choices.
0:46.3	I'm Alara Sky, and I'll help translate the science into clear, practical takeaways.
0:51.3	You'll learn how mitochondrial strength shapes your response to stress and
0:55.7	why restoring cellular energy changes how you feel, think, and recover.
1:01.0	Columbia University researchers identified a direct connection between acute psychological stress
1:06.8	and a hormone that regulates metabolism and glucose balance called fibroblast growth factor 21.
1:13.6	The team found that stress alone, without physical exertion,
1:17.6	shifts this hormone in measurable ways, revealing a biological bridge between what you feel and how your cells make energy.
1:25.6	In healthy adults, the hormone dropped about 20% immediately after a standardized mental stressor
1:31.3	and returned to baseline within 90 minutes.
1:33.3	In people with mitochondrial disease, levels rose roughly 32% and peaked at 90 minutes.
1:39.3	The opposite directions show that your mitochondrial capacity,
1:43.3	your cell's ability to turn nutrients into usable energy,
1:47.0	determines whether stress temporarily dampens or amplifies this metabolic signal.
	...

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