The Claim
The intensity of aerobic exercise is positively correlated with post-exercise cortisol concentration.
What the research says
Challenges is higher
Challenge is ahead, but a single strong supporting study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Higher intensity aerobic exercise is associated with higher levels of cortisol in the blood after exercise.
See the scientific wording
The intensity of aerobic exercise is positively correlated with post-exercise cortisol concentration.
When aerobic exercise becomes intense and sustained, muscles produce more lactate due to oxygen shortage, which signals the brain to activate the stress response system. This causes the brain to release a hormone that tells the pituitary gland to release another hormone, which then tells the adrenal glands to produce and release cortisol into the blood.
What the research says
3 studiesThe study found that after doing intense exercise for 10 weeks, teens had less cortisol in their blood—not more. So, higher intensity exercise was linked to lower, not higher, cortisol levels, which is the opposite of what the claim says.
Related videos
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 3 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.