Apr 1, 2026Mental Health

Can Probiotics or Guided Imagery Change Cortisol?

Two randomized trials tested a kefir probiotic strain and guided imagery for cortisol. The signals were small, mixed, and far from practical proof.

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Apr 1, 2026Hormones

Laughter Yoga, Cortisol, and Menopause: What a Trial Shows

A 64-person trial linked laughter yoga plus self-care education to lower salivary cortisol and menopausal symptoms. Which part drove change remains unknown.

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Mar 24, 2026Mental Health

Outdoor Rehab Gets Older Adults Moving, but Fear Persists

Outdoor rehabilitation can increase physical activity in older adults, yet fear of falling often remains. What the evidence says—and what trials still miss.

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Mar 24, 2026Mental Health

Caregiving Stress and Exercise: What the Evidence Supports

Dementia caregivers face chronic stress and less time to move. What research says about exercise, allostatic load, and realistic activity plans.

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Mar 19, 2026Mental Health

Hair Cortisol: What a Three-Month Stress Record Can Tell You

Hair cortisol captures cumulative daytime cortisol over months, but it cannot deliver a simple stress score. Here is what the evidence supports.

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Mar 16, 2026Mental Health

Probiotics for Stress: Small Effects, Weak Sleep Evidence

Can probiotics ease stress or anxiety? A 2026 meta-analysis finds small cortisol and psychological effects, but sleep and inflammation claims fall short.

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