{"id":158,"date":"2026-10-07T12:30:25","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lomalindaliving.com\/?page_id=158"},"modified":"2026-10-07T21:00:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T21:00:23","slug":"our-method","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lomalindaliving.com\/cortisol\/our-method\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Method"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"158\" class=\"elementor elementor-158\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-741a016 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"741a016\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51f45602 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"51f45602\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<link 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.sources-list li{margin-bottom:14px}\r\n@media(max-width:850px){#cib-master .topic-hero-grid,#cib-master .two-col{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:25px}#cib-master .topic-hero{padding:40px 0 30px}#cib-master .topic-hero h1{font-size:clamp(40px,8vw,60px)}#cib-master .topic-checklist,#cib-master .context-card,#cib-master .topic-band{padding:24px}}\r\n#cib-master .footer-links{flex-wrap:wrap}#cib-master .nav a[aria-current=page]{text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:5px}#cib-master .method-reading{max-width:940px}#cib-master .method-steps{padding-left:24px;margin:24px 0;color:var(--muted)}#cib-master .method-steps li{padding-left:7px;margin:18px 0}#cib-master .method-steps strong{color:var(--ink)}#cib-master .method-reading a{text-underline-offset:4px}#cib-master .method-reading h2{max-width:760px}<\/style><div id=\"cib-master\"><a class=\"skip\" href=\"#cib-main\">Skip to content<\/a><header class=\"top\"><div class=\"wrap bar\"><a class=\"brand\" href=\"\/cortisol\/\" aria-label=\"Cortisol in Balance home\"><svg class=\"mark\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 44\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 40V20C20 10 29 4 36 3C36 15 30 23 20 24M20 33C7 32 3 24 3 15C13 16 20 22 20 33\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\"\/><circle cx=\"20\" cy=\"6\" r=\"3\" fill=\"#C19A5B\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"brand-name\">Cortisol <em>in Balance<\/em><span class=\"brand-sub\">The Cortisol in Balance System<\/span><\/span><\/a><nav class=\"nav\" id=\"cib-nav\" aria-label=\"Main navigation\"><a href=\"\/cortisol\/\">Home<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-claim-library\/\">Claim Library<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-daily-tools\/\">Daily Tools<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/our-method\/\">Our Method<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-the-system\/\">The System<\/a><\/nav><div class=\"header-actions\"><a class=\"btn\" href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-daily-tools\/\">Start Here<\/a><button class=\"menu-toggle\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"cib-nav\" aria-label=\"Open navigation\">\u2630<\/button><\/div><\/div><\/header>\r\n<main id=\"cib-main\"><section class=\"topic-hero\"><div class=\"wrap\"><p class=\"breadcrumbs\"><a href=\"\/cortisol\/\">Home<\/a> \/ Our Method<\/p><div class=\"topic-hero-grid\"><div><p class=\"eyebrow\">Understand. Support. Don't obsess.<\/p><h1>Our method.<br><em>Read the source.<br>Keep the limits.<\/em><\/h1><p class=\"lead\">Cortisol is easy to turn into a headline and hard to turn into a conclusion. This page explains how we handle that: what we read, how we decide what to say, and what we refuse to say.<\/p><\/div><aside class=\"context-card\"><p class=\"eyebrow\">The sources we prefer<\/p><h2>Read the source.<br>Keep the limits.<\/h2><p>Sources inform our educational content. They do not endorse this site or its products, and linking to them does not imply that they do.<\/p><\/aside><\/div><nav class=\"topic-jump\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><a href=\"#cib-author\">Who writes this site<\/a><a href=\"#cib-method\">Our method<\/a><a href=\"#cib-sources\">Sources<\/a><a href=\"#cib-commercial\">Commercial transparency<\/a><a href=\"#cib-corrections\">Corrections<\/a><\/nav><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-author\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap method-reading topic-copy\"><h2>Who writes this site<\/h2><p>Zaron Mitchell is the editorial pen name used for Cortisol in Balance. It is not a medical credential, and this site does not present its author as a licensed clinician. The project helps readers understand common cortisol claims, examine the evidence and recognize its limits. It offers educational pages, free daily tools and an optional digital product, The Cortisol in Balance System. The content is educational, not medical advice, and does not replace care from a qualified clinician.<\/p><!-- Medical review section omitted because no reviewer has been supplied. --><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-method\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap method-reading topic-copy\"><h2>Four steps we follow on every page<\/h2><ol class=\"method-steps\"><li><strong>Read and understand.<\/strong> We define the claim and the words in it before judging it. \u201cHigh cortisol\u201d can mean a lab result, a medical condition, or a feeling after a hard week. These are different things.<\/li><li><strong>Evaluate with judgment.<\/strong> We ask what evidence would be needed to support the claim, what the linked source actually says, and what remains uncertain.<\/li><li><strong>Apply with awareness.<\/strong> Where there is a practical next step, it is a habit or a question for a clinician, never a treatment. A routine can give your day structure. It cannot be shown to change a hormone level.<\/li><li><strong>Show the sources and the commercial context.<\/strong> We link to identifiable sources for the main clinical topics and describe the limits of the evidence. These pages are introductory summaries, not a complete clinical reference. We also tell you what we sell.<\/li><\/ol><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-sources\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap method-reading topic-copy\"><h2>The sources we prefer<\/h2><ul class=\"method-steps\"><li>Government health agencies, such as the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).<\/li><li>Professional endocrine societies and their published guidelines, such as the Endocrine Society.<\/li><li>Peer-reviewed research, described with its limits (for example, whether it shows an association or a cause).<\/li><\/ul><p>Sources inform our educational content. They do not endorse this site or its products, and linking to them does not imply that they do.<\/p><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-limits\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap method-reading topic-copy\"><h2>What we do not do<\/h2><ul class=\"method-steps\"><li>We do not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.<\/li><li>We do not estimate, score or infer your cortisol level, and the free tools do not either.<\/li><li>We do not interpret your personal test results.<\/li><li>We do not promise that any routine, product or guide will lower, raise or balance a hormone.<\/li><li>We never suggest changing prescribed medication. Do not stop or change a medicine because of anything on this site.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-commercial\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap method-reading topic-copy\"><h2>Commercial transparency<\/h2><p>This site offers an optional paid product, <a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-the-system\/\">The Cortisol in Balance System<\/a>: a digital guide, three practical tools and an audio companion series. The free tools and the educational pages do not require a purchase. The product is educational and makes no clinical claims.<\/p><\/div><\/section><section id=\"cib-corrections\" class=\"section\"><div class=\"wrap method-reading topic-copy\"><h2>Corrections<\/h2><p>If you find an error, an outdated statement or a broken source, tell us. Send the page address, the wording you question and a source if you have one through the <a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-contact\/\">contact page<\/a>. We review reported errors and update the relevant page when a correction is needed.<\/p><p class=\"small\">This page describes our editorial approach and is not medical advice.<\/p><\/div><\/section><\/main><footer class=\"footer\"><div class=\"wrap\"><div class=\"footer-top\"><a class=\"brand\" href=\"\/cortisol\/\"><svg class=\"mark\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 44\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20 40V20C20 10 29 4 36 3C36 15 30 23 20 24M20 33C7 32 3 24 3 15C13 16 20 22 20 33\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\"\/><circle cx=\"20\" cy=\"6\" r=\"3\" fill=\"#C19A5B\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"brand-name\">Cortisol <em>in Balance<\/em><span class=\"brand-sub\">The Cortisol in Balance System<\/span><\/span><\/a><div class=\"footer-links\"><a href=\"\/cortisol\/\">Home<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-claim-library\/\">Claim Library<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-daily-tools\/\">Daily Tools<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/our-method\/\">Method &amp; Sources<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-the-system\/\">The System<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/glossary\/\">Glossary<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-tests\/\">Cortisol Tests<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-and-sleep\/\">Cortisol and Sleep<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-contact\/\">Contact<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-privacy-policy\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a><a href=\"\/cortisol\/cortisol-terms-of-use\/\">Terms of Use<\/a><\/div><\/div><p>General education, not individualized medical advice. This site and its tools do not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. No cortisol level is measured or inferred. Fonts may be requested from Google Fonts. External source links open third-party sites.<\/p><p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9 2026 Zaron Mitchell \u00b7 The Cortisol in Balance System.<\/p><\/div><\/footer>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(()=>{'use strict';const root=document.getElementById('cib-master');if(!root||root.dataset.methodInitialized)return;root.dataset.methodInitialized='true';const menu=root.querySelector('.menu-toggle'),nav=root.querySelector('#cib-nav');if(!menu||!nav)return;const close=()=>{nav.classList.remove('open');menu.setAttribute('aria-expanded','false');menu.setAttribute('aria-label','Open navigation');};menu.addEventListener('click',()=>{const open=menu.getAttribute('aria-expanded')!=='true';menu.setAttribute('aria-expanded',String(open));menu.setAttribute('aria-label',open?'Close navigation':'Open navigation');nav.classList.toggle('open',open);});nav.querySelectorAll('a').forEach(a=>a.addEventListener('click',close));root.addEventListener('keydown',e=>{if(e.key==='Escape')close();});})();<\/script>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skip to content Cortisol in BalanceThe Cortisol in Balance System Claim LibraryDaily ToolsOur MethodThe System Start Here\u2630 Home \/ Our Method Understand. 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