The Cortisol Reset Plan: The Complete Guide to Balancing Your Hormones, Reversing Weight Gain, and Restoring Nervous System Health – Combat Anxiety, Fatigue, and Insomnia Holistically

by Marina Wright

Die Strategie für hormonelle Balance, gesundes Gewicht und mentale Stärke

Unerklärliche Gewichtszunahme, Erschöpfung, Schlaflosigkeit, Entzündungsherde im Körper – ist das Stresshormon Cortisol aus der Balance geraten, hat das spürbare Folgen für Gesundheit und Lebensqualität. Vor allem Frauen sind häufig betroffen, zu oft bleibt die Ursache unerkannt. Marina Wright, Gesundheitscoach und Ernährungsberaterin (@marinawrightwellness), spezialisiert auf hormonelle Gesundheit, vermittelt alles, was man über Hormonbalance wissen muss. Was löst die oft verwirrenden Symptome aus, wie wirkt sich chronischer Stress auf den Körper aus und welche Gewohnheiten helfen, die Hormone ins Gleichgewicht zu bringen?Mit ihrem fünfstufigen Ernährungs- und Lebensstilprogramm kommen die Hormone ins Gleichgewicht, das Körperbewusstsein wird gestärkt, der zirkadiane Rhythmus reguliert und es entstehen neue Routinen, die langfristig vor den Auswirkungen von chronischem Stress schützen.Der Cortisol-Effekt Selbsttest zur Einschätzung der eigenen Symptome- neuestes Wissen darüber, wie und wo sich Stress im Körper auswirkt- stressreduzierende Rezepte und umfassende Ernährungsempfehlungen- leicht umsetzbare tägliche Gewohnheiten, die den Körper beruhigen und ins Gleichgewicht bringen

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

My Story
How I Went From Busy to Balanced
From a high-powered corporate career to motherhood and entrepreneurship, I've experienced the challenges of a demanding lifestyle firsthand.

I know what it feels like to have to choose between getting everything ticked off your to-do list or looking after your well-being—and how often that choice comes at the expense of your health.

My struggles with anxiety, gut issues, weight gain, and fertility problems revealed that chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation were at the root of my health challenges. Conventional treatments didn’t address these underlying causes, which led me on a path toward holistic healing.

This transformation fuels my dedication to helping people like you find balanced health through group programs, online teachings, and practical resources—including my book, The Cortisol Reset Plan.

I focus on teaching the powerful mind-body connection and how chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation contribute to many physical and mental health issues.

My approach combines accessible, easy-to-implement strategies with science-backed nutrition protocols, all designed to support long-term healing, resilience, and vitality.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to figure out getting my cortisol under control is a topic I have been researching a lot. Why does it have to be so complicated?

This book had lots of good information but not much I hadn’t heard before and not much I’ve already been trying without much success. The eating part is probably the key and is just easier said than done.

One gripe is that there are two tests to evaluate whether your cortisol is high or low. But there’s no discussion about what the results mean. Seems like that would have been interesting to readers. If you’re reading the book, you already think you have high or low cortisol.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cortisol Reset Plan is one of those wellness books that feels very timely. It focuses on stress, hormones, sleep, food, and daily habits, all aimed at getting cortisol back into balance. I appreciated how approachable the information was — nothing felt wildly out of reach, and the explanations were easy to follow without being overly clinical.

That said, a lot of this will feel familiar if you’ve read other stress or hormone-health books. There’s solid advice here, but not much that felt groundbreaking. Where it works best is in pulling everything together into a clear, step-by-step plan that feels doable rather than overwhelming.

Overall, this is a good reset book if you’re feeling burned out, tired, or stuck in survival mode. It’s practical, gentle, and encouraging — just don’t go in expecting a miracle or totally new science

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been interested in this topic for some time, so as far as this book is concerned, in addition to the recipes that are included as usual, the most “innovative” part, in my opinion, concerns organizing one's activities according to circadian rhythms.

L'argomento mi interessa da tempo, quindi per quanto riguarda questo libro, oltre alle ricette che ci sono come al solito, la parte piú "innovativa" riguarda, secondo me, l'organizzare le proprie attività rispetto ai ritmi circadiani.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Dr. B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tackles a topic that has become increasingly popular in wellness circles: the role of cortisol and chronic stress in weight gain, fatigue, and hormonal imbalance. The premise is appealing, especially for readers looking for practical ways to support their health through lifestyle and nutrition.

While it presents a plan aimed at restoring hormonal balance through diet, stress management, and daily routines, much of the advice feels fairly generic and repetitive. Suggestions such as improving sleep habits, reducing stress, eating whole foods, and regulating daily routines are sensible, but they are also widely known and not explored in much depth here.

At times, the discussion around cortisol and hormones also feels somewhat simplified, and I would have appreciated more nuance or stronger scientific grounding behind some of the claims. The programme itself may be helpful as a gentle starting point, but readers looking for more detailed or evidence-based guidance might find it lacking.

Overall, The Cortisol Reset Plan offers some useful reminders about the importance of stress management and healthy habits, but it didn’t provide enough new insight or depth to feel particularly impactful.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially attracted to this audiobook as someone who has had cortisol issues myself, however, I don't think the audiobook is the best choice for this one. If someone is intially pulled to the audiobook, I highly recommend pairing it with the ebook or physical book as there are many things referenced back to, areas in which I would annotate or mark up, etc. This is also a book to take your time with, and because of that I think the physical book would have been a better choice. The book is filled with plenty of helpful information, quizes to determine your own needs, as well as recipes and other recommendations.

The narrator of the audiobook is fine. She speaks clearly and is easy to understand. However, there are long pauses between chapters and sections that I genuinely checked my phone multiple times thinking that the audiobook had stopped or something had happened. I was listening to the audiobook above 1x speed, so I can only imagine how long these pauses felt at 1x speed. This was annoying enough after a while that had I not been listening to it for review I would have stopped the audiobook and/or switched to the physical.

Audiobook provided by Netgalley!

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and accessible introduction to cortisol and the changes you can make to help make you feel better overall. The author gives a nice background on your body and how everything works in combination. She also shows where things can go awry. She gives concrete steps on how to incorporate her suggestions in your daily life. For example there are sections on how to balance your meals, which exercise plans may be best, and a daily routines for waking, sleeping, exercising. There is also a small set of recipes in the second half of the book to encourage you to balance your meals with the right amounts of protein, carbs, and good fats.

I do not feel that there is anything in the book that is truly a brand new way of thinking, but rather a nice grouping of trending strategies. This is helpful because you would not need multiple books to convert the same subjects.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperOne for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cortisol Reset Plan is an incredibly informative and timely read—an excellent way to start the new year with a focus on better health. The book breaks down cortisol and stress in a way that’s mostly easy to understand while offering practical guidance for real life. I’m especially looking forward to trying the recipes, even though a few of them seem a bit challenging. This is a great book to pick up if you’re middle-aged and focused on staying healthy, balanced, and proactive about your well-being.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper One for this informative ARC.

[Rayna (Poindextrix) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is specifically for the audiobook of the Cortisol Reset Plan.

It’s a good introduction to cortisol, its role in the body, and how our behaviors influence it. The book is quite self-referential and is designed to be worked through slowly. Between that and the various lists present throughout the book, audio would not be my recommended format for this title.

The book is otherwise a helpful compilation of information about how to manage cortisol levels.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook.

[Joél · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very “science” minded self help book that leans towards the medical jargon and verbiage throughout the book. While there are some very helpful and practical tips and tricks to guide you through ways to reset your cortisol levels, I did feel as though it could have been presented in a simpler and easier to understand way. The format of this book leaned very heavy on textbook feel and less like self help.

Thank to NetGalley for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.

[Marko Mravunac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

You know things are not looking good if I am requesting advanced copies of self-help books. The Cortisol Reset Plan was an interesting read, I liked the fact it included scientific data and references, I wasn't just mumbo jumbo off the top of someone's head. The book also includes concrete steps and advice on what to do and how to do it in this era when most people are burned-out and just "off". I do hope I will use some of the recipes from the end of the book, let's see. All in all, it was an interesting read, but nothing groundbreaking.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately not much new info in this book than what is already widely known. Some good tips on how to intentionally try to create calm internally, and why having high stress/cortisol levels are often a reason for mid life weight that you can't take off with exercise and a traditional "healthy diet." Recipes weren't that great either.

[growithselena · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the information there was well rounded and backed by science. I really enjoy the language and the recipe section. Although there was nothing groundbreaking but it is kinda a good way tı have all that information in one place.

[Melissa Kerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I get stressed out trying to find ways to de-stress during the day. This is another book reminding me of why we need less stress in our daily lives, our mid section will thank us.

[Lauren Nicol Deaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that I really will come back to. I've actually had a look and it's also an audio book on Spotify so I've saved it for later.

Couple of things really you really have to be interested in biology/science because there is tons of stuff in this that went completely over my head.

I also felt like the questionnaire is quite confusing especially if you are someone who has just had a baby. It's normal to be sleep deprived so I'm not sure how many of those questions I could of answered correctly.

I did learn A LOT though. I had no idea that nightshade like tomato's or peppers can actually affect some people's gut.

You need a lot of time and patience for this book so if you have it, its worth a read.