Key takeaways:
A cortisol cocktail, also called an adrenal cocktail, is a homemade drink that contains orange juice, coconut water, pink Himalayan salt, and magnesium powder. It's touted as a wellness drink that reduces stress and adrenal fatigue.
There’s no solid evidence that cortisol cocktails improve adrenal health, although some studies show magnesium may help lower cortisol levels.
Cortisol cocktails can be an effective way to temporarily boost hydration and energy.
A cortisol cocktail is a popular wellness drink thought to help lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. It's easy to make at home with just a few ingredients. But can sipping on this beverage really help reduce your stress? Though it may offer some benefits, it's important to keep your expectations realistic.
About 75% of adults in the U.S. report that stress affects their health to the point that it leads to physical symptoms, like headaches, fatigue, and anxiety. As people look for quick solutions for stress relief, cortisol cocktails have gained popularity.
Let’s take a closer look at what the science says about cortisol cocktails, and whether this drink really works.
What is a cortisol cocktail?
A cortisol cocktail, also called an adrenal cocktail, is a non-alcoholic beverage that some people claim supports adrenal health and balances cortisol levels. Your adrenal glands are small organs near your kidneys that make hormones, including the stress hormone, cortisol. The cortisol cocktail is touted as a wellness drink that helps to keep the adrenal glands functioning properly, but the evidence is lacking.
The cortisol cocktail is made of a few simple ingredients that you may have in your fridge or pantry:
Orange juice
Coconut water
Pink Himalayan sea salt
Magnesium powder
The cortisol cocktail does include some ingredients that may support overall health, though. Orange juice can help provide a boost of energy, and coconut water and sea salt provide electrolytes and help keep you hydrated. Magnesium is also a key ingredient of the cortisol cocktail. One small study showed that it’s a supplement that may be useful in lowering cortisol levels.
It’s important to know that this isn’t a magic cocktail that will immediately lower your stress. It can help you stay hydrated, give you a burst of energy if you get the afternoon slumps, and may help lower cortisol. But, keep in mind, the best way to consistently lower your cortisol level is through lifestyle strategies, like:
Adequate amounts of sleep
Regular exercise
Well-balanced diet with high-fiber foods
Looking to lower your cortisol? These supplements may help you reduce your cortisol naturally.
Your diet can affect your cortisol. The foods on this list may actually be raising your cortisol.
Cortisol and gut health: One woman shares the dietary habits that helped to lower her cortisol.
What are the benefits of a cortisol cocktail?
The cortisol cocktail may not have all of the health benefits that it’s claimed to have, but the ingredients of a cortisol cocktail do have some nutritional value. Let’s take a closer look below.
Orange juice
Orange juice contains natural sugars, which can provide you with a glucose boost and a burst of energy. It’s also rich in vitamin C, for immune health. And its potassium and folate content help support kidney and heart health.
But keep in mind that orange juice has a high sugar content. Fresh-squeezed orange juice will often have a lower sugar count than commercial orange juices, which often have added sugars.
Coconut water and sea salt
The coconut water and sea salt in a cortisol cocktail have electrolytes, which help you stay hydrated. This has many benefits, like:
Improving your energy
Helping with weight loss
Decreasing headaches
Improving your overall health
Research has found that coconut water may also help lower blood pressure and support skin and gut health.
Magnesium
Magnesium is the only ingredient in the cortisol cocktail that research has found lowers cortisol levels. The recommended dosage is 320 mg per day for adult women and 420 mg per day for adult men. If you eat a balanced diet, you’ll likely get all of the magnesium you need. So, talk to a healthcare professional before adding magnesium supplements to your routine through cortisol cocktails.
Other supplements
Collagen powder and protein powder are common additions to cortisol cocktails. These supplements can also help support the health of the following body areas:
Skin
Bones
Muscles
Joints
Recipe for a cortisol cocktail
Making a cortisol cocktail at home is fairly simple. But, before you try it, talk to a healthcare professional to make sure the recipe is safe for you.
These are standard ingredients for a cortisol cocktail:
½ cup of orange juice
½ cup of coconut water
1 serving of magnesium powder (per the serving size recommendations on the label)
A pinch of pink Himalayan salt
There are variations to the cortisol cocktail recipe. These ingredients are popular add-ins you can use, based on your preference:
Collagen powder
Protein powder
Squeeze of fresh lemon
Sparkling water
Do cortisol cocktails work for weight loss?
Research has found that high levels of cortisol in the body can cause weight gain and increased fat storage around the abdomen. High cortisol can also increase your appetite, which is where the term “stress eating” stems from. But drinking a cortisol cocktail is unlikely to have a huge impact on weight loss.
Even though it does keep you hydrated, a cortisol cocktail has more calories than just plain water. If you’re concerned about added calories, you can use less orange juice to decrease the calorie and sugar content. You could substitute more sparkling water or coconut water instead.
Do cortisol cocktails cause any side effects?
Cortisol cocktails are safe for most people to enjoy, with few side effects. For some people, the magnesium and sodium content may cause:
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Bloating
If you’re mixing in magnesium powder, collagen powder, or protein powder, talk to a healthcare professional to make sure these supplements don’t interfere with your medications. You should take into consideration other supplements and vitamins you take, too, to ensure you aren’t taking too much.
You should also check with your healthcare team before adding cortisol cocktails to your routine if you have conditions, like:
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Diabetes
Conditions requiring you to watch your fluid intake
Frequently asked questions
It may be best to drink the cortisol cocktail earlier in the day to avoid disrupting your sleep. Try having the cocktail in the morning or mid-afternoon when you feel tired. The extra hydration may help give you an energy boost.
The signs of high cortisol levels include:
Fatigue
Weight gain around the belly
Mood swings
Irregular periods
High blood pressure
Prolonged high cortisol levels can be caused by emotional or physical stress. It can also be caused by medical conditions and certain medications, like prolonged steroid use. If you’re concerned your cortisol levels may be high, talk to a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
You may immediately feel a small burst of energy from the orange juice and the overall boost of hydration. But it's important to note that you likely won't feel a significant difference from this drink alone. You’re more likely to feel improvements in your overall well-being from certain lifestyle strategies, like a balanced diet, exercise, and stress management.
It may be best to drink the cortisol cocktail earlier in the day to avoid disrupting your sleep. Try having the cocktail in the morning or mid-afternoon when you feel tired. The extra hydration may help give you an energy boost.
The signs of high cortisol levels include:
Fatigue
Weight gain around the belly
Mood swings
Irregular periods
High blood pressure
Prolonged high cortisol levels can be caused by emotional or physical stress. It can also be caused by medical conditions and certain medications, like prolonged steroid use. If you’re concerned your cortisol levels may be high, talk to a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
You may immediately feel a small burst of energy from the orange juice and the overall boost of hydration. But it's important to note that you likely won't feel a significant difference from this drink alone. You’re more likely to feel improvements in your overall well-being from certain lifestyle strategies, like a balanced diet, exercise, and stress management.
The bottom line
A cortisol cocktail is a wellness drink you can make at home. This drink has gained popularity for its potential to lower cortisol and support adrenal health, but there’s no evidence to support this supposed benefit. The ingredients can help to keep you hydrated and offer a quick energy boost. For long-term stress relief, it can help to focus on lowering your stress, getting adequate sleep, and eating a balanced diet.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Psychological Association. (2022). Stress in America 2022.
Dutt, M., et al. (2023). Physiology, adrenal gland. StatPearls.
Goldfarb, M. (2019). How to identify high cortisol levels: Cushing’s syndrome. Saint John’s Cancer Institute.
Maurya, N. K. (2024). The cortisol connection: Weight gain and stress hormones. Archives of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
MedlinePlus. (2025). Magnesium in diet.
National Counseling on Aging. (2025). 10 reasons why hydration is important.
Schutten, J. C., et al. (2020). Long‐term magnesium supplementation improves glucocorticoid metabolism: A post‐hoc analysis of an intervention trial. Clinical Endocrinology.
Shi, S., et al. (2025). Research progress in coconut water: A review of nutritional composition, biological activities, and novel processing technologies. Foods.
Thau, L., et al. (2023). Physiology, cortisol. StatPearls.
