{"id":275151,"date":"2025-07-19T16:25:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T16:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/275151\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T16:25:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T16:25:15","slug":"can-the-viral-drink-actually-relieve-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/275151\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Viral Drink Actually Relieve Stress?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Juice_Drink_Female_Home-1296x728-header.jpg\" alt=\"Female drinking a cortisol cocktail drink\" class=\"css-1jytyml\"\/><a class=\"icon-hl-pinterest css-1dn5h5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-event=\"Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked\" data-element-event=\"OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fcortisol-mocktail-stress-relief&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.post.rvohealth.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F07%2FJuice_Drink_Female_Home-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=%E2%80%98Cortisol%20Cocktail&#039;%3A%20Can%20the%20Viral%20Drink%20Actually%20Relieve%20Stress%3F\" title=\"Share on Pinterest\" data-pin-custom=\"true\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Juice_Drink_Female_Home-1296x728-header.jpg\">Share on Pinterest<\/a>TikTok users say the \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d can help lower stress, but experts are skeptical about the benefits. Flashpop\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Proponents of the viral \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d claim the drink can reduce stress and improve sleep, but there\u2019s little evidence to support this claim<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Its main ingredient, magnesium, may help support stress relief, but the dose in a single serving is quite low<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other ingredients, like citrus juice and coconut water, can be beneficial, but their effects are likely minimal<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Experts say there\u2019s no harm in trying the drink, but it\u2019s not a replacement for stress management strategies like quality sleep, nutrition, and movement<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you follow nutrition content on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/discover\/recipe-for-cortisol-drink?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\">TikTok<\/a> or other social media platforms, you might have seen influencers sipping a fizzy drink before bed, claiming it helps them sleep better, feel calmer, and wake up more refreshed. <\/p>\n<p>The so-called \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d typically includes a blend of magnesium powder, coconut water, and citrus juice, with some content creators adding pink Himalayan salt or sparkling water for taste.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/high-cortisol-symptoms\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cortisol<\/a> is a \u201cstress hormone,\u201d and with stress, inadequate sleep, and burnout on the rise, it\u2019s not hard to understand the drink\u2019s appeal. <\/p>\n<p>The viral mocktail has been praised as a \u201crelaxation ritual\u201d that provides natural nervous system support. Some proponents report that it helps them manage stress and fall asleep more easily. <\/p>\n<p>But is it an effective stress-reliever? And does it have any health drawbacks? Here\u2019s what the science and nutrition experts has to say.<\/p>\n<p>There isn\u2019t any scientific evidence to support the stress-relieving benefits of the cortisol cocktail, but the individual ingredients could have some merit. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/magnesium-and-sleep\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Magnesium<\/a>, in particular, may offer some benefits. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we\u2019re experiencing stressful episodes, our body will utilize and burn through our magnesium stores more quickly, plus we excrete more magnesium out in our urine when we\u2019re stressed. So, topping up levels is helpful,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p>Similarly, nutritionist <a href=\"https:\/\/surreynutrition.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\">Amie Parry-Jones<\/a> told Healthline that <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33030273\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\">research<\/a> published in 2020 found magnesium may lower elevated cortisol, especially in those with deficiencies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElevated cortisol can contribute to loss of electrolytes,\u201d Parry-Jones said. \u201cA deficiency can cause a number of stress-related symptoms.\u201d Because of this, some people may find it helpful to supplement with magnesium.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/food-nutrition\/benefits-of-lemon-water\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lemon juice<\/a> component of the cortisol cocktail may provide a boost of an important vitamin.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe adrenals utilize vitamin C quickly, so ensuring we have adequate levels is important,\u201d Edwards explained. <\/p>\n<p>That said, research is still limited. <\/p>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8783887\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\">Studies<\/a> that report benefits of vitamin C in managing symptoms related to stress generally use high dose supplementation of ascorbic acid rather than food sources,\u201d Parry-Jones pointed out. <\/p>\n<p>So, the minimal amount of vitamin C you get in your cortisol cocktail may not provide any meaningful benefit. <\/p>\n<p>What about the inclusion of coconut water? <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCoconut water contains good levels of electrolytes, notably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/potassium\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">potassium<\/a>, which can address <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/electrolyte-disorders\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">electrolyte imbalances<\/a>, potentially supporting a reduction in cortisol,\u201d said Parry-Jones. <\/p>\n<p>Still, both experts agreed that this effect is likely to be minimal. <\/p>\n<p>The cortisol cocktail could have some unintended effects, like disrupted sleep and elevated blood sugar levels. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe sugars from orange juice are absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly due to the separation from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/food-nutrition\/fiber-diet-good-for-gut-and-health\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fiber<\/a> in the whole fruit,\u201d Parry-Jones explained. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA spike in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/diabetes\/normal-blood-sugar-level\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">blood glucose levels<\/a> before bed will lead to a subsequent crash as the body releases insulin.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cPoor sleep in turn increases <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/high-cortisol-symptoms\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cortisol levels<\/a> the following day,\u201d Parry-Jones pointed out. <\/p>\n<p>If you are trying the cortisol cocktail, Edwards recommends having it earlier in the day alongside a meal to lessen the blood sugar spike. <\/p>\n<p>For some, the cortisol cocktail may also lead to digestive issues. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe sparkling water in the recipe may cause digestive symptoms such as bloating, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/gerd\/acid-reflux-symptoms\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reflux<\/a>, or gas, again potentially leading to poor sleep,\u201d said Parry-Jones. <\/p>\n<p>You probably won\u2019t experience any significant stress-relieving benefits from this wellness drink.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cortisol mocktail sounds fun, but it\u2019s highly unlikely to lead to any real results in reducing cortisol or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">addressing stress<\/a> levels in the long term,\u201d said Parry-Jones.<\/p>\n<p>Edwards agreed. \u201cIt might support the optimal stress response, but dosage is important. The drink contains lowish amounts of ingredients and nutrients, meaning its potency is also low.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Plus, stress is rarely solved with a single mocktail.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d encourage people to think about their overall lifestyle, nutrition as a whole, sleep and movement, rather than focusing on one drink,\u201d Edwards said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook at the bigger picture, rather than overly focusing on one \u2018quick fix\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And if you are feeling better after drinking it? It might be something else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere may be an element of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/placebo-effect\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">placebo effect<\/a> when someone starts drinking this cocktail. This tends to be initially quite powerful but wears off over time,\u201d Parry-Jones pointed out.<\/p>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s all bad. But the experts noted that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety\" class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">meaningful stress relief<\/a> and cortisol balance almost always come from more personalized interventions, which may involve working with a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestTikTok users say the \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d can help lower stress, but experts are skeptical about the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":275152,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4317],"tags":[104049,105,218,4920,449,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-275151","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-cortisol-cocktail","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-mental-health","11":"tag-stress","12":"tag-tiktok","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114880834664614249","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275151\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/275152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}