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Have you heard of the “cortisol cocktail”? Rather than something you’d order at a bar, this drink is one of the latest health trends floating around social media.
Proponents claim that the drink – which is made from ingredients including orange juice, coconut water and Salt – May reduce high cortisol levels and help with “adrenal” Tiredness“. In return, a range of benefits are expected, ranging from low to Tension To improve energy levels.
But can a cortisol cocktail really achieve these things? And do we really need to lower our cortisol levels in the first place? Let’s see what the evidence says.
First of all, what is cortisol?
Cortisol is often portrayed as harmful to us, but we can’t live without it.
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands also produce many other hormones, Which includes adrenaline, sex hormones and aldosterone (it helps balance salt in the body and affects blood pressure,
Cortisol is regulated by the brain in response to stress. Physical stress (for example, injury or lack of sleep) and psychological stress (such as work pressure or grief) stimulate the stress response – also known as the fight-or-flight response – and cortisol secretion.
We often hear cortisol described as the “stress hormone.” But cortisol also has many other important functions – it increases glucose (sugar) in the blood to provide energy, regulates metabolism, and reduces inflammation.
Our body produces cortisol constantly, but levels vary with the daily light-dark cycle. It increases just before we wake up, is highest during the morning, decreases in the afternoon and is lowest overnight.
We want high cortisol in the morning to wake us up and release energy. We also want higher cortisol in stressful situations, for example, if we have to run for a train or have to be alert during an important discussion. On the other hand, we want less cortisol throughout the night to help us sleep.
But there is often a misconception about high versus low cortisol.
Many symptoms routinely attributed to high cortisol, such as weight gain and fatigue, are actually associated with low cortisol. People with chronic fatigue syndrome often have low cortisol.
About the author
Theresa Larkin is Associate Professor of Medical Sciences at the University of Wollongong. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. read the original article,
chronic stress High cortisol can cause secretion, but constant stress can also cause low cortisol.
Specifically, adrenal fatigue, which is not a medically recognized condition, means that the adrenal glands produce less cortisol.
So it makes no sense to suggest that a cortisol cocktail can help with both high cortisol and adrenal fatigue (low cortisol).
What’s in the cortisol cocktail?
Recipes vary, but typically the ingredients are one-half cup each of orange juice and coconut water, about one-quarter teaspoon of salt, and sometimes additional potassium or magnesium powder.
Health claims associated with vitamin C From orange juice, potassium from coconut water, extra magnesium, and sodium from salt.
Vitamin C, an essential nutrient with many health benefits, is linked to healthy adrenal gland function and cortisol balance.
Coconut water (and sometimes cream of tartar) is included as a source of potassium. Potassium is essential for healthy cell functioning and maintaining a regular heartbeat.
Potassium will not affect cortisol, but may help with some of the effects of chronic stress and high cortisol, such as high blood pressure.
Sometimes magnesium powder is added. Magnesium is essential for energy production, and is relevant to chronic stress that uses too much energy and depletes magnesium.
One-third of Australians don’t get enough magnesium. Good food sources of magnesium include leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans and meat.
However, any claims that sodium is good for high cortisol or your adrenal glands is false. Excessive salt intake is linked to several chronic diseases and increases cortisol levels in rats and humans.
Too much salt and sugar makes this trend risky for some people
While the cortisol cocktail contains some essential vitamins and minerals, it is unlikely to meaningfully lower your cortisol levels and is high in sugar and salt.
It contains about 16 grams of sugar (11 grams from orange juice and about 5 grams from coconut water). This is about one-third of the recommended daily limit of sugar.
Due to its sugar content, Cortisol Cocktail may not be suitable for people with diabetes.
One-quarter teaspoon of salt is one-fourth of the recommended daily limit. Excessive salt intake is common and should be especially avoided by people with high blood pressure.
The high potassium content of cortisol cocktail is also risky for people with heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.
How can I maintain healthy cortisol levels?
Reducing stress is the best way to keep our adrenal glands and cortisol levels healthy. In a large meta-analysis, mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation were the best ways to reduce high cortisol.
In a previous article, I described five types of activities that can help reduce stress: exercise, cognitive and creative activities, socializing, and self-soothing (for example, breathing exercises and meditation).
Dedicating time to at least one of these every day can be beneficial. But even small steps to reduce stress during the day can help, like taking a few minutes to slow your breathing, talking to a friend, stretching, or doing a quick puzzle.
As far as the cortisol cocktail is concerned, its benefits are questionable. Instead of orange juice, salt and mineral powder, eating an orange and some nuts or seeds will give you the nutritional benefits without the high sugar and salt content.