
The Energy Blueprint Podcast Beyond Adrenal Fatigue: What's Really Happening With Your Cortisol with Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dec 20, 2025
Dr. Izabella Wentz, a licensed pharmacist and thyroid specialist, reveals that 90% of Hashimoto's patients experience cortisol fluctuations that lead to fatigue and sleepless nights. She challenges the myth of 'adrenal fatigue', explaining it as a protective response to chronic stress rather than damaged glands. Wentz introduces a simple 4-week protocol that dramatically improves anxiety and sexual health. Discover how lifestyle changes related to sleep and circadian rhythms play a vital role in restoring energy and well-being.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hashimoto's Strongly Tied To Cortisol Changes
- About 90% of people with Hashimoto's show altered cortisol release patterns during the day.
- Izabella Wentz links thyroid dysfunction tightly with HPA axis changes that explain fatigue and brain fog.
Thyroid Meds Can Lower Cortisol Fast
- Starting thyroid replacement can increase cortisol clearance and cause symptoms as cortisol drops.
- Wentz warns some patients feel worse after thyroid meds because cortisol exits faster once thyroid improves.
Adrenals Adapt, Not Burn Out
- 'Adrenal fatigue' is not damaged glands but an adaptive HPA recalibration to chronic stress.
- Wentz emphasizes the body downregulates cortisol production to protect itself from constant high cortisol.

