A wellness drink nicknamed the \u201ccortisol cocktail\u201d has gone viral<\/a> on TikTok<\/a> as creators claim it reduces stress<\/a>, restores energy, and balances hormones \u2014 but what do doctors say?<\/p>\n Cortisol is often referred to as the \u201cstress hormone,\u201d but it plays essential roles in regulating metabolism, inflammation, blood pressure, and the sleep-wake cycle. Experts emphasize that cortisol level fluctuations are natural and beneficial, unless associated with chronic stress or underlying illness. <\/p>\n Usually sipped before bedtime<\/a>, common recipes for the beverage include coconut water for electrolytes<\/a>, orange or lemon juice for vitamin\u202fC, a pinch of salt, and sometimes magnesium powder. Some variations add cream of tartar or sparkling water for taste and fizz. <\/p>\n Supporters of the viral drink suggest this mix counters \u201cstress-induced\u201d nutrient loss, but medical consensus largely disagrees.<\/p>\n According to a recent Healthline<\/a> article, the cocktail itself lacks proven health<\/a> benefits. Experts interviewed said that while ingredients like magnesium, potassium, sodium, and vitamin\u202f C may support overall wellness, their presence in one serving is unlikely to meaningfully reduce cortisol or stress. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Experts say cortisol cocktails should be consumed earlier in the day, not near bedtime, as some people online suggest (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n One ingredient, however, stands out among the rest.<\/p>\n \u201cMagnesium is a powerhouse of a nutrient responsible for hundreds of biochemical processes in the body,\u201d nutritionist Beth Edwards told the outlet.<\/p>\n \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 added.<\/p>\n Nutritionist Amie Parry-Jones added, \u201cElevated cortisol can contribute to loss of electrolytes. A deficiency can cause a number of stress-related symptoms.\u201d <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Nutritionists caution against viewing the cortisol cocktail as a cure-all for stress since there are currently no rigorous clinical studies showing that the drink significantly lowers cortisol levels (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n As a result, some people may find it helpful to utilize a magnesium supplement. Still, the nutritionists said people shouldn\u2019t think of a cortisol cocktail as a cure-all for stress, especially before going to sleep, as no rigorous clinical studies currently link the drink to a meaningful reduction in cortisol levels. <\/p>\n \u201cThe sugars from orange juice are absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly due to the separation from fiber in the whole fruit,\u201d Parry-Jones said. \u201cA spike in blood glucose levels before bed will lead to a subsequent crash as the body releases insulin.\u201d<\/p>\n Poor sleep can raise cortisol levels the next day, Parry-Jones added. <\/p>\n If trying the cortisol cocktail, it’s best to drink it earlier in the day with a meal to reduce potential blood sugar spikes, the expert said. But beware of possible side effects from the drink.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sparkling water in the recipe may cause digestive symptoms such as bloating, reflux, or gas, again potentially leading to poor sleep,\u201d Parry-Jones said.<\/p>\n Both nutritionists urged those curious about trying the cocktail to find other ways to manage stress, including looking at the bigger picture of movement, diet, and sleep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":312603,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4317],"tags":[105,218,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-312602","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mental-health","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-mental-health","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114960665498459182","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312602","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=312602"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312602\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Experts](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/iStock-1190491770.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Nutritionists](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/iStock-183534150.jpeg\")
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