Cortisol Won’t Calm Down? Dr. Will Cole And His Team Has Some Answers

If your health questions tend to stack up faster than Google can keep up, this Ask Me Anything episode of The Art of Being Well is for you. Dr. Will Cole and his clinical team move through the issues listeners are actually dealing with right now: chronic stress that won’t let cortisol settle, digestion that goes off the rails during travel, ingredient confusion in “healthier” packaged foods, and the anxiety of living in a world full of environmental toxins.

The team breaks down how stress shows up in the body, why your nervous system plays a bigger role in digestion than most people realize, and how to support detox pathways without turning wellness into a full-time job. They also unpack what’s changing in the latest dietary guidelines, explaining why protein, real food, and metabolic health are finally getting more attention.

The conversation is a reminder to identify what you can control, support your body where it’s asking for help, and stop expecting perfection before progress.

What do you tell women who live in a stressful environment to lower their cortisol?

Stress isn’t just emotional or situational—it’s physiological too, and your body doesn’t really care where it’s coming from. Dr. Cole explains, “the body can’t…really distinguish between the two,” which is why chronic stress often shows up as inflammation, digestive issues, stubborn weight changes, or labs that look off even when you’re “doing everything right.”

If stress is baked into your current season, the first step isn’t another supplement. Dr. Cole asks patients to evaluate their situation and decide whether they can change it, leave it, or accept it. Sitting in between those options is what keeps the nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight. As he puts it, “Otherwise you’re going to be creating so much dysregulation on the inside.”

When acceptance is the only real option, the work becomes about safety and resilience. That’s where breathwork, meditation, and nervous-system support come in as tools to strengthen vagal tone and calm an overactive stress response. “It’s called practice for a reason. We all suck at it,” Dr. Cole jokes. But he’s right, give your body enough signals of safety that cortisol finally gets the memo.

Is carrageenan safe for kids, especially with celiac and a sensitive gut?

This question comes from a place most parents know well: trying to balance convenience, nutrition, and a child’s very real health needs all at once. Dr. Cole breaks it down without fear-mongering, starting with what carrageenan actually is—an emulsifier derived from seaweed that helps stabilize texture in packaged foods, including many “better-for-you” options.

The key distinction is between types. The carrageenan used in food is different from the degraded version used in medical research to trigger inflammation. As Cole explains, “Food grade carrageenan is the undegraded carrageenan.” For most people, occasional exposure isn’t a big deal. It’s not on their top list of ingredients to avoid, and it’s far from the biggest problem in the modern food system.

Context matters, though. For kids with celiac disease or autoimmune issues, the calculus changes slightly. A sensitive gut is already under stress, and even small, consistent irritants can add up. That’s why the team looks at frequency, not perfection. If a child is eating the same carrageenan-containing food every single day and still struggling with digestion, it may be worth removing it temporarily to see if symptoms improve.

What do you recommend for constipation on the go and for long-term support?

Just because constipation is common—especially during travel—doesn’t mean it’s something your body should quietly tolerate. Dr. Cole emphasizes that digestion is deeply tied to nervous system function, not just fiber intake.

For short-term, on-the-go support, they lean into simple, accessible tools. Prunes and prune juice get a serious endorsement, backed by studies showing meaningful improvements in motility. Aloe juice, warm lemon water in the morning, and short-term options like senna-based teas are framed as temporary aids, not daily crutches. These are about getting things moving when routine and time zones are working against you.

Long-term support zooms out to the gut-brain axis. Chronic stress can slow peristalsis, so calming the nervous system becomes foundational. Breathwork, meditation, and practices that support vagal tone help shift the body back into a “rest and digest” state. From there, food quality, hydration, and microbiome support matter more than quick fixes

What can you do if you live in a highly polluted area and moving isn’t an option?

Relocation isn’t realistic, and sadly, pollution is everywhere. One of the team’s most emphasized tools to overcome this is sweat. Whether it’s an infrared sauna, hot yoga, sauna blankets, or Epsom salt baths, regular sweating helps the body move environmental toxins out instead of letting them recirculate. The recommendation is frequent and intentional, not occasional.

From there, testing becomes a way to reclaim peace of mind. Running an environmental toxin panel can clarify whether exposure is actually showing up on labs or if your current lifestyle is already buffering it well. That insight prevents overcorrecting and helps target support when needed.

Daily mitigation matters too. Air purifiers sized correctly for your space, clean HVAC systems, and water filtration—both for drinking and bathing—are framed as high-impact upgrades. Nutrition plays a supporting role through colorful, flavonoid-rich foods and compounds that assist detox pathways, alongside binders used carefully so elimination stays regular.

What’s changing in the new dietary guidelines and why does it matter?

There’s a conversation around the new dietary guidelines and Dr. Cole explains that, for the first time in decades, the messaging is leading with real food and metabolic health instead of rigid macronutrient fear. Protein is finally being prioritized—not just to avoid deficiency, but to support strength, longevity, and stable blood sugar. At the same time, grain recommendations have been scaled back, and lower-carb approaches are being acknowledged as legitimate options for certain health goals.

What matters most is the ripple effect. Federal dietary guidelines influence school lunches, hospital food, military meals, and assistance programs. When those recommendations change, the food system follows. Dr. Cole points out that tightening sugar limits and closing loopholes around ultra-processed foods helps shift both access and demand toward more nutrient-dense options.

The update also signals a broader cultural correction. Decades of messaging framed fat and red meat as inherently harmful, shaping how people eat and how food is marketed. While quality still matters, the new guidelines reflect a growing consensus that thriving requires adequate protein, fewer refined carbohydrates, and a clearer definition of what “real food” actually means.

To hear all of the team’s insights, listen to The Art of Being Well wherever you get your podcasts.

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