{"id":16519,"date":"2025-07-22T22:45:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/16519\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T22:45:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:45:12","slug":"the-viral-cortisol-cocktail-claims-to-reduce-stress-but-does-it-really-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/16519\/","title":{"rendered":"The Viral Cortisol Cocktail Claims to Reduce Stress\u2014But Does It Really Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re feeling stressed or worn out, sipping on a \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d could be the fix you\u2019re looking for, according to some health accounts on TikTok and Instagram. There are several variations of the drink, but the main ingredients include orange juice, coconut water, salt, and cream of tartar. Some cortisol cocktail enthusiasts claim that this combination can help lower cortisol<\/a> levels and alleviate adrenal fatigue, ultimately increasing energy levels. But is there any merit to this claim? We asked experts for their take on this buzzy beverage.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

What is adrenal fatigue and how does it relate to cortisol? <\/p>\n

First, it helps to understand how your adrenal glands function. The glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce several hormones, including cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone, explains Pooja Gidwani, MD,<\/a> a board-certified internal medicine physician in Los Angeles.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cCortisol is often referred to as the ‘stress hormone’ but it plays many roles beyond stress,\u201d Dr. Gidwani says. \u201cIt helps regulate blood sugar, inflammation, blood pressure, and even your body\u2019s energy levels.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

According to social media videos, high cortisol can contribute to low energy and brain fog<\/a>, which some people describe as adrenal fatigue. But, Dr. Gidwani says thinking about cortisol in terms of \u201chigh\u201d and \u201clow\u201d isn\u2019t entirely accurate. And cortisol has been wrongly demonized, although it\u2019s an essential hormone.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Cortisol is naturally highest in the morning, which helps you wake up and decreases throughout the day, she explains. \u201cRather than aiming to lower cortisol, which has become a popular, but misleading, wellness goal, the real aim should be to support healthy cortisol rhythms,\u201d Dr. Gidwani says. \u201cThat means prioritizing things like morning sunlight, exercise in the morning, hydration, and a protein-rich breakfast, and consistent sleep and stress management habits.”\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to know that adrenal fatigue isn\u2019t a recognized medical diagnosis. \u201cIt\u2019s more of a wellness term used to describe nonspecific symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and burnout, which are often caused by poor sleep, chronic stress, under-eating, or blood sugar instability,\u201d Dr. Gidwani explains.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

However, adrenal insufficiency is a medical condition that happens when the adrenal glands don\u2019t produce enough cortisol. That is typically caused by autoimmune disease, such as Addison\u2019s disease,\u00a0 pituitary dysfunction, or steroid withdrawal, according to Dr. Gidwani.\u00a0 Adrenal insufficiency is a serious medical condition that can\u2019t be fixed with mocktails or supplements.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Does the cortisol cocktail have any benefits? <\/p>\n

If someone is feeling run-down or depleted, this drink might offer a little pick-me-up through hydration<\/a> and electrolyte support, says Valerie Agyeman, RDN, women’s health dietitian and founder of Flourish Heights<\/a>. \u201cOrange juice and coconut water provide vitamin C and potassium nutrients that can support overall hydration and energy levels, which can feel helpful if you’re under stress,\u201d Agyeman says.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The salt provides sodium, which helps maintain proper fluid balance and nerve function, according to Dr. Gidwani. That said, the beverage is a temporary fix. \u201cThe mocktail may help someone feel better short term by improving hydration and electrolyte status, but it doesn\u2019t address the underlying causes,\u201d Dr. Gidwani says.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Although the drink is relatively safe, people with allergies to the ingredients, kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart failure, or those taking diuretics should be cautious due to the potassium and sodium content, according to Dr. Gidwani. And those with heart or kidney issues should be careful when using cream of tartar, which can be dangerous for them in large amounts, she advises.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re feeling stressed or worn out, sipping on a \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d could be the fix you\u2019re looking…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16520,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[49,48,84,393,394],"class_list":{"0":"post-16519","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-mental-health","12":"tag-mentalhealth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16519\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}