Does the Viral Cortisol Cocktail *Actually* Reduce Stress Like TikTok Claims? 

First it was sleepmaxxing, and then the 75-hard challenge. Now, it’s cortisol cocktails? A new day, another HealthTok shenanigan. Everyone and their mom is concerned about their cortisol. You know? Your stress hormone. People are so concerned that they’re drinking arsenal cocktails to manage their stress, balance their hormones, and even lose weight. 

The cocktail isn’t made out of anything special—just some orange juice, a splash of coconut water, lemon juice, and pink sea salt. But according to TikTok, this combination provides so many nutrients, electrolytes, and glucose that it acts as a caffeine booster without the dreaded crash. And according to one creator, it can even "cure" anxiety.

I usually take most health trends with a grain of salt. After all, a social media app is not the best place to get advice about physical and mental health conditions. However, as someone who has long experienced anxiety, I was intrigued to see if drinking an arsenal cocktail could lessen—not cure—my anxiety symptoms. 

So, I put this trend to the test, and the results were interesting, to say the least. Here’s what to know about the cortisol cocktail trend, and what exactly happened when I drank it for a week straight. 

First, what is cortisol? 

Before we get into my mini-experiment, let’s break down what cortisol, aka the stress hormone, actually is. “It’s a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress,” says Sean Leonard, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Healthy Life Recovery. “It plays a vital role in metabolism, immune function, inflammation control, and blood control regulation.” 

Leonard says the stress hormone is your body’s built-in alarm system, adding that it supports your stress response, boosts energy, and controls your sleep and wake cycle. Bonnie Mitchell, DBH, LPCC, clinical director at Healthy Life Recovery, adds that cortisol is activated by mental and physical stress. “Your body releases cortisol when you experience acute (short-term) stress, chronic (long-term) stress, or traumatic stress.”

But the thing is that cortisol has always existed, so why are so many people concerned about it now? Well, more people are stressed than ever, according to a poll conducted by the American Psychological Association. And people are blaming cortisol for their high stress levels, Dr. Mitchell points out. Hence why so many are seeking new ways to lower their stress hormones. 

Symptoms and diagnosis of high cortisol

Managing your cortisol levels isn’t simply done with just a cocktail. First, you need to know whether your levels are actually low or high. Some physical symptoms of high cortisol include “weight gain, especially around the abdomen and face, fatigue, weakness, and a general lack of energy [and] muscle and bone weakness,” says Dr. Mitchell. As for psychological symptoms, you can expect some level of anxiety, depression, feelings of irritability, brain fog, and general restlessness. 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms often, it's a good idea to see your healthcare provider and ask for a cortisol test. There are ways to test cortisol levels: blood, saliva, and urine. According to Leonard, blood tests are generally drawn in the morning when your hormone levels are at their highest. But you can take saliva tests at home for a period of time to track daily fluctuations or do an at-home urine test to measure cortisol levels over 24 hours.

Does the cortisol cocktail reduce stress? 

Many types of cortisol cocktails have been circulating online, but the most popular one is a mixture of orange juice, lemon juice, pink sea salt, and coconut water. The drink is packed with electrolytes and nutrients that could potentially reduce stress and boost energy. However, both Leonard and Dr. Mitchell say there is no scientific evidence right now that proves this cocktail is a surefire way to reduce your cortisol levels and overall stress. 

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drink the cocktail. As stated, this mixture “can offer some nutritional benefits like hydration and electrolytes,” adds Dr. Mitchell. Leonard agrees, noting that “the natural sugars in orange juice can provide a quick energy boost, which might be useful for those with low cortisol, but it does not regulate cortisol production itself.” 

Are there any risks or side effects of cortisol cocktails?

The cortisol cocktail doesn’t directly impact your hormones, but is it healthy or harmful to drink? Well, the answer is...it’s complicated, says Leonard. “The drink is mostly fine to drink, but consider its high sugar content, high sodium intake, and [it’s] not a substitute for treatment,” he says. 

In other words, if you live with diabetes or have insulin resistance, it's important to be mindful that this cocktail is stuffed with sugar, which could then also spike your blood sugar. On the other hand, people with heart disease or high blood pressure should also take caution, as the drink is formulated with pink salt (which has a high sodium count) and can increase your blood pressure. Lastly, Leonard points out that the cortisol cocktail, while safe, isn’t a treatment for stress-related conditions. If you live with anxiety or depression, it's important to seek care from a mental health care provider for proper treatment.

Other than these precautions, the drink is safe, and also great for hydration. “The combination of water, glucose, and sodium is well known to the medical community as an 'oral rehydration solution,' that serves as a way to treat dehydration,” Dr. Mitchell says. She also adds that the potassium and sodium in the cocktail can make you mentally alert, albeit temporarily. 

We put it to the test

So, does the cortisol cocktail even work? I decided to put it to the test. I’ve been living with general anxiety disorder for over five years and have taken medication for at least three of those years. Before officially getting diagnosed and taking meds, I tried a bajillion different lifestyle changes to regulate my stress. Everything from exercise to meditation and mindfulness, and even coloring. Very few of these methods actually helped me with my anxiety. And while I'm fine with taking medication, if there's a cocktail I can take to help ease my stress, I’m down to try. 

I made the cocktail twice a day, for a week straight. I also didn’t make any other lifestyle changes—still had my morning coffee, worked out at night, ate dinner around 7—the usual. The first day I started this mini experiment, I didn’t notice any change in anxiety levels or energy. By the third and fourth day, I expected to feel different. But nope. My body was still the same. 

Even when I had an anxiety attack over the weekend, the cocktail still didn’t work. I resorted to using my go-to coping mechanisms, which are usually reading Pinterest affirmations or playing video games. The cocktail didn’t work energy-wise either. I usually drank the second cup mid-afternoon, when I started to feel the effects of my caffeine crash. But it didn’t boost my energy levels and cure my sluggishness. Honestly, it just felt like I was overdrinking orange juice for the past week. 

But this is an important lesson: Not everything you see online works for every body (or mind). While a trend like this is deemed safe, it's also wise not to keep your expectations for drastic results too high.

The bottom line

So after all that, here's my key takeaway: Don’t believe everything you see on social media, especially as it pertains to mental and physical health. Cortisol is a very real thing, but a cortisol cocktail? Not so much.

Look, I get it. The world is a scary, unpredictable place. It makes sense with everything going on. We’re all stressed AF. But before you start chugging orange juice mixed with coconut water, maybe try some true-and-tried stress-relief strategies. Things like getting enough sleep, working out regularly, and practicing deep breathing exercises can help, says Dr. Mitchell. 

And if you’re really concerned about your cortisol levels, give your healthcare provider a call. They can help give you a rundown of what’s going on in your body. Maybe it’s not high cortisol—just exhaustion or even dehydration. You won’t know what’s ailing you (if anything is) until you see them for additional testing and support.  

So, the next time you’re feeling anxious, depressed, and generally restless, practice some anxiety relief techniques. They’re more helpful than a social media-consigned cocktail. “Instead of focusing on a quick-fix drink, invest in long-term stress management strategies,” Leonard suggests. “If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed, struggling with sleep, or experiencing burnout, talk to a provider to get a personalized plan.” Sometimes, the basics are all you need to do the trick.