I Tried the TikTok-Famous “Cortisol Cocktail”

Let’s face it — the world can be a stressful place. There are numerous ways to reduce stress and deal with the trials and tribulations life throws at you. I for one like to practice yoga, wind down with some calming music, or go for a walk while listening to one of my favorite podcasts. 

Given how stressful our world is at the moment, I can easily see why this drink has gone viral. Introducing the cortisol cocktail, which claims to reduce stress levels, boost energy, and get you feeling a bit more zen. I’m always down to try a new way to reduce my anxiety and chill out, so after seeing it make the rounds on Instagram and TikTok, I was curious to put the drink to the test. 

First things first, what even is cortisol? Let’s break it down. Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands (which sit on top of your kidneys) that help regulate your stress levels. Cortisol plays a role in reducing inflammation in the body, as well as regulating your blood sugar, blood pressure, metabolism, energy levels, and circadian rhythm (which is linked to your sleep cycle). 

Cortisol is crucial for your body’s function — we need it to survive. It can surge in stressful situations, such as running to catch the subway or rushing to meet a deadline for work. It’s good in short bursts, but when there’s too much cortisol and those levels remain elevated consistently, that’s when things can get a bit out of wack. High cortisol levels can be linked to difficulty sleeping, poor immune function, high blood pressure, and more intense food cravings. 

Despite the name, the cortisol cocktail doesn’t actually contain any alcohol. There are also variations in the recipe as well with some leaving out the magnesium and opting for cream of tartar instead. (You may even see it referred to as the “adrenal mocktail.”) I used 200 ml of coconut water, 1/2 squeezed lemon, 50 ml of orange juice, 1 teaspoon of magnesium powder, 1/4 teaspoon fine salt, and sparkling water to taste.

So how does it work to get those cortisol levels down? Coconut water is full of antioxidants and high in potassium, which can aid with lowering blood sugar levels, boosting hydration, and replenishing electrolytes. Lemon and orange juice are high in vitamin C, which helps to boost your immune system and decrease inflammation. Magnesium has been linked to reducing stress and anxiety and can promote better sleep quality, improve the ability to fall asleep, and may even lower levels of depression. 

I first tried the cortisol cocktail on a normal weekday evening. I normally don’t have a cocktail (or mocktail) before bed, so making this felt like a treat. I struggle with insomnia at times and had gone for a run earlier in the evening, so I was curious to see how it would make me feel. 

Channeling my inner bartender, I mixed the ingredients together, poured it into a fancy glass, and took a sip. I liked the balance of flavors — there’s sweetness from the orange juice while the lemon juice and salt provide tartness and a bit of a bite. I normally don’t like coconut water and never drink it on its own, but in the cortisol cocktail I was surprised by how much I liked it! It added a tropical note and felt like a jazzed up mimosa. Plus, the effervescence from the sparkling water was a nice touch. Overall, it was very refreshing and something I’d make again (in fact, I already have). I can’t technically tell if it actually did lower my cortisol levels, but I did sleep well that night and it was a nice way to wind down before bed. 

• Swap out the OJ: While shopping for the ingredients, I was tempted to try a tangerine juice I spotted at the grocery store instead, but decided to stick to the recipe. However, I think another citrus juice would work just fine for a different flavor combination. 
• Play around with the ratios: I’d recommend keeping the amount of magnesium fixed, but feel free to tailor the ratios of the other ingredients to suit your taste. 
• Skip the magnesium: If you’re planning on making this in the daytime and don’t want to doze off before your 2 p.m. meeting, skip the magnesium and just make the drink with the rest of the ingredients. It’s a fun beverage to sip on while going through emails.