health and longevity · the day's top 10 · june 4th

Storyflo Health — Daily Health Brief · Jun 4, 2026 · 22m

High cortisol, not sugar, is the main driver of insulin resistance. When cortisol stays elevated it forces the liver to release glucose, breaks down muscle for fuel and tells fat cells to store energy, especially around the waist. Two everyday habits keep cortisol high: eating ultra‑processed foods, which trigger a cortisol spike alongside blood‑sugar rises, and getting poor, fragmented sleep, which spikes cortisol overnight even without eating. Lowering cortisol can be started by swapping one processed snack for a whole‑food alternative, replacing sugary drinks with water, getting 7‑9 hours…