A New Wellness Trend Promises to Reduce Stress and Boost Energy, but Does it Deliver?

The latest wellness trend floating around social media is the “cortisol cocktail,” a drink made with orange juice, coconut water, and salt that claims to lower high cortisol levels and alleviate symptoms of adrenal fatigue. But is this trendy drink backed by science, or is it just a marketing gimmick?

Cortisol is often portrayed as the “stress hormone,” but in reality, it plays a crucial role in our body’s response to stress. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol helps regulate our body’s response to physical and psychological stress, increasing glucose levels in the blood to provide energy and reducing inflammation. However, chronic stress can lead to both high and low cortisol levels, and the relationship between cortisol and stress is more complex than previously thought.

For example, people with chronic fatigue syndrome frequently have low cortisol levels, while those with chronic stress may experience higher cortisol secretion. Adrenal fatigue, a condition that is not medically recognized, is characterized by the adrenal glands producing less cortisol. This means that the idea of a cortisol cocktail helping with both high cortisol and adrenal fatigue is contradictory.

Proponents of the cortisol cocktail claim that the drink’s ingredients, including vitamin C from orange juice and potassium from coconut water, can help balance cortisol levels and alleviate symptoms of adrenal fatigue. However, the evidence supporting these claims is lacking. While vitamin C is essential for healthy adrenal gland function and cortisol balance, the high sugar and salt content of the drink makes it unlikely to have a meaningful impact on cortisol levels.

In fact, the American Heart Association recommends limiting daily sugar intake to 25 grams, and the cortisol cocktail contains a whopping 16 grams of sugar. This is more than the recommended daily limit, and excessive sugar consumption has been linked to a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Additionally, the high salt content of the drink can be problematic for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. The recommended daily limit for salt is 2,300 milligrams, and the cortisol cocktail contains around 1,000 milligrams of salt.

So, what can you do to maintain healthy cortisol levels? Reducing stress is the best way to keep our adrenal glands and cortisol levels healthy. Mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation have been shown to be effective in lowering high cortisol levels, and incorporating activities such as exercise, cognitive and creative activities, socialising, and self-soothing into your daily routine can offer benefits.

Some of the most effective stress-reducing activities include:

Exercise: Regular physical activity can help reduce stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins, also known as “feel-good” hormones.

Cognitive and creative activities: Engaging in activities such as puzzles, reading, or creative pursuits can help take your mind off stress and promote relaxation.

Socialising: Spending time with friends and family can help reduce stress and promote feelings of happiness and well-being.

Self-soothing: Activities such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation can help calm the mind and body.

In addition to these activities, incorporating foods that naturally support adrenal health into your diet can also be beneficial. These foods include:

Leafy green vegetables: Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens are rich in magnesium, which is essential for energy production and can help alleviate symptoms of chronic stress.

Whole grains: Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread provide sustained energy and can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds such as almonds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium and can help alleviate symptoms of chronic stress.

Legumes: Legumes such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas are rich in magnesium and can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Meat: Lean meats such as chicken, turkey, and fish provide sustained energy and can help regulate blood sugar levels.

In conclusion, while the cortisol cocktail may seem like a quick fix for stress and energy, the evidence supporting its claims is lacking. Instead of relying on trendy drinks and supplements, focus on incorporating stress-reducing activities and whole foods into your daily routine to support healthy cortisol levels.