This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
How safe is the cortisol mocktail trend?
Cortisol mocktails have been scrutinised by medical professionals following concerns about their popularity. But, db asks, are they safe?
The non-alcoholic drinks are marketed as “adrenal cocktails,” and, in reports inviting discussions into their validity, the mocktails usually combine citrus juices, coconut water, and sea salt in various proportions. As such, many are considering them as a “healthier” alternative to drinking alcohol. However, medical professionals are not convinced, even if some nutritionalists see the benefit.
The drinks, which are rising in popularity via platforms such as TikTok reportedly reflect a broader pattern of drinks trends that promise a quick solution or alternative to imbibing alcohol.
Debunkimg this though are many from medical science and nurtitional backgrounds who are growing increasingly sceptical about the mocktails. Primarily, their concerns are linked to the way that the human body’s stress response system, particularly the adrenal glands, operates and it has been noted that it works through complex mechanisms that cannot be significantly influenced by simple drink mixes.
The adrenal glands, which produce crucial hormones including cortisol, are, according to medics, “sophisticated” and “cannot be meaningfully altered through specialised drinks, regardless of ingredient combinations”.
Further reports on the topic also highlight that the popularity of cortisol mocktails stems partly from their association with “adrenal fatigue” which is a concept that some consider be characterised by tiredness, mental fog, and weight management issues, however no medical evidence supports the validity of this condition.
In terms of the cortisol mocktail’s ingredients, reports outline that while the components like citrus juices, coconut water, and sea salt could be considered to offer nutritional benefits, mixing them does not necessarily create a stress-reducing drink.
Partner Content
Instead, it was noted that the ingredients could contribute to hydration and mineral balance, but equally similar benefits could also be achieved through following a balanced diet.
More pertinently, the professionals stated that the addition of extra ingredients like cream of tartar or myriad spices could infact further complicate the results and that marketing such mocktail recipes created false expectations.
The risks, according to the medical and nutritional experts, were more that the popularisation of such drinks meant that people with underlying medical conditions, faced risks from regular consumption.
It was flagged that this was true in particular of those with conditions affecting kidney function or blood sugar regulation. Additionally, the high potassium content in coconut water, combined with additional minerals, had been highlighted as a potential hazard too.
Ultimately, the medical professionals emphasised the importance of comprehensive approaches to stress management and overall wellness instead of looking for a remedy in a cortisol mocktail.
The scientific community also emphasised the value of evidence-based approaches to managing stress which offered more reliable paths improved wellbeing.
The experts added that the cortisol mocktail phenomenon serves as a distinct reminder of the gap between viral health trends and scientific evidence which is becoming blurred in this era of “rapid information sharing”.
Related news
5 unique drinks trends for 2025