Let’s face it: Americans are stressed. Google searches for “how to reduce stress” are high, and 77% of U.S. adults report that the country’s future is a major source of stress, according to a survey done by the American Psychological Association.
So, it’s no surprise that people are looking for ways to better manage their stress. One of the latest hacks to pick up some steam online is the “cortisol cocktail.”
The drink often seen prepared in a wine glass, is actually alcohol-free and combines these ingredients:
- Coconut water
- Orange juice
- Squeezed lemon
- Magnesium powder
- A pinch of sea salt
- Sparkling water
Social media users, especially on TikTok, post videos of themselves making the beverage at home. They also address the claims that it can help lower the stress hormone, cortisol and share their experiences.
But can the mocktail actually help lower cortisol? We talked to medical professionals to find out if there are any real benefits.
Dr. Marilyn Tan, endocrinologist and clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.
“It’s necessary for function, and without it, people could have dangerous changes in their sodium and potassium levels, and also low blood sugar and very low blood pressure,” Tan says.
Cortisol rises during times of emotional or physical stress. And levels of cortisol are highest early in the morning, right after people wake up, and wane throughout the day, which makes them pretty difficult to track.
“Doctors asking patients to lower their cortisol? We almost actually never do that because it’s something that’s actually hard to track,” says Dr. Jessica R. Lee, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
“It’s more about managing stress and other things that we think can contribute to the cortisol changes.”
Only when someone has consistent and severely high levels of cortisol, or Cushing’s Syndrome, would doctors recommend medication for lowering levels of the hormone, Tan says.
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