Cortisol is often called the stress hormone because it’s released during times of physical and emotional stress, but it’s not always a bad thing. It is responsible for maintaining the health of and proper communication between every cell in your body. Whether you’re dealing with a lot of stress or just want to ensure you’re supporting your natural cortisol levels, here are three ways to to balance your cortisol naturally.

We are firm believers that there is more to weight loss and true health than calories in versus calories out. Our philosophy is simple and straight forward -- if you eat real food, made from scratch, you will feel better on the inside and out. But how do you keep track of progress or stay motivated without seeing numbers dropping on the scale every day? We checked in with Mia Rigen, our wellness partner, New York City based Nutritionist and founder of RASA, on alternative ways to measure your health - no scales or calorie counting required.