Cortisol cocktail to reduce stress? What science says

A glass of orange juice, coconut water and salt. It promises to reduce stress, lower cortisol and bring energy back. On Tiktok the idea proselytes. Tired mothers, students under examination, manager in Burnout: all crazy for the “Cortisol cocktail”. But what does medicine say?

Theresa Lankin, professor of medical sciences at the University of Wollongg, analyzed the scientific basis of this fashion in An article on The Conversation. And his conclusions demolish the enthusiasm of the followers: “The Cortisol cocktail contains essential vitamins and minerals, but It is unlikely that cortisol levels significantly lowersand abounds with sugar and salt “.

The misunderstanding of cortisol

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The hype for the drink was born from a background misunderstanding: “Cortisol is often represented as something negative, but we could not live without”, Lankin explains. It is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that regulates energy, metabolism and inflammation. “Our body produces cortisol constantly, but the level changes with the daily light-dark cycle. Increases just before we wake up, it is higher in the morning, decreases in the afternoon and is lower during the night”. However, there is a detail that escapes. “Many symptoms regularly attributed to high cortisol, such as weight gain and tiredness, are actually connected to low cortisol. People with chronic fatigue syndrome often have low levels of this hormone “, clarifies the researcher. And here the contradiction of the Cortisol Cocktail emerges:” How could (the cocktail) help with both high cortisol and with adrenal fatigue (low cortisol)? “.

The Cortisol Cocktail recipe

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But what’s inside this “miraculous” drink? The recipes vary, but generally contain “half a cup of orange juice and half of coconut water, about a quarter of teaspoons of salt, and sometimes extra powers of potassium or magnesium”. The healthy promises are based on vitamin C of orange juice, the potassium of coconut water, any added magnesium and sodium from salt.

Vitamin C is actually connected to the healthy operation of the adrenal glands, potassium can help with some effects of chronic stress such as hypertension and magnesium is essential for energy production. “But any statement that sodium is good for high cortisol or for the adrenal glands is incorrect,” warns Lankin. “A high intake of salt indeed is connected to many chronic diseases and increases cortisol levels in mice and human beings”. That’s not all: “Cortisol cocktail contains about 16 grams of sugar (11 grams from orange juice and about 5 grams from coconut water). This represents about a third of the recommended daily limit of sugar “. Result: other than anti-stress, the drink can be risky for those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, heart or kidney disease.

How to check cortisol

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How to keep cortisol levels healthy? An effective action plan must be based on 5 pillars: body, mind, relationships, creativity and serenity. “Reducing stress is the best way to keep our adrenal glands and levels of this hormone healthy”, the scientist says. “How? From large research on the subject we know that Mindfulness, meditation and relaxation techniques are the best ways to lower high cortisol”.