Cortisol Cocktails: Fight Adrenal Fatigue with These Delicious Recipes!

You may have come across the term “cortisol cocktail” recently while scrolling online. Despite the name, cortisol cocktails have nothing to do with alcohol or creating a fancy mixed drink (at least not one with alcohol). However, they can help if you’re feeling run down! 

Let’s dive into what cortisol cocktails are, how you can make one to give yourself a boost, and our favorite, supportive combinations. 

What Is a Cortisol Cocktail?

Cortisol cocktails are a trendy term for drinks that provide nutritional support to individuals experiencing stress, fatigue, or a combination of both—this is sometimes referred to as adrenal fatigue, which is an informal term that describes these general symptoms. 

Many of us associate the term “cortisol” with stress, and you’d be correct! According to the Cleveland Clinic, cortisol is a steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands. Having too much or too little cortisol causes a variety of undesirable side effects, such as impacting our blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, and energy levels. Cortisol also plays a key part in stress management in the body and helps to boost your immunity by reducing inflammation in the body temporarily. 

When our cortisol levels are off, this can impact how we feel and manage stress. Sometimes, this is a sign of adrenal fatigue. 

Adrenal Fatigue

According to the Mayo Clinic, adrenal fatigue is a general term that describes mild adrenal insufficiency (when the body doesn’t keep up with making enough hormones or managing chronic stress). Common symptoms of adrenal fatigue include: 

• General tiredness 
• Craving salty foods
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Body aches
• Lightheadedness

We always recommend consulting with your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing worrying or ongoing symptoms. However, many of us experience general fatigue or simply feel a bit “under the weather” here and there. We can all relate to feeling worn down by ongoing stress, which is where a cortisol cocktail can come in handy. 

How Do You Make a Cortisol Cocktail?

A cortisol cocktail aims to support improved energy, balanced hormones and mood, reduced stress, and improved sleep. 

Many also contain ingredients that replenish your electrolytes—studies show that electrolytes help with everything from moving nutrients into your cells, balancing the water and PH level in your body, supporting healthy muscle and nerve function, and keeping your blood pressure stable! 

A typical base for cortisol cocktails is orange juice, but we recommend replacing this sugary beverage with something that won’t significantly impact your blood sugar levels, while providing healthy replenishment. 

Here’s the base recipe for a cortisol cocktail (from here, you can mix and match to make your perfect combo!): 

• A delicious base: A tea or beverage, like coconut water, that meets your goals (we recommend caffeine-free options)
• A supportive extract: Extracts provide additional support to help you meet your health goals. For example, we love our Calming Elixir when we’re feeling overly wired or struggling with headaches or anxiety.* 
• A pinch of Himalayan salt: This provides a boost of replenishing sodium and minerals. 
• Optional add-ins: A scoop of collagen, creatine, fruit slices, cucumber, electrolytes, etc. 

Our Favorite Cortisol Cocktail Add-ins & Combinations

Amazing Base Teas

Most caffeine-free teas make a fantastic base for a cortisol cocktail, but here are a few of our favorites for their scrumptious taste. Many contain berries, which are loaded with antioxidants and known to support your health in numerous ways. 

• Purple Seduction Tea: This gorgeous purple tea is outstanding iced and contains nutrient-dense strawberries, blueberries, orange, apple pieces, and hibiscus. 
• Lemon Cucumber Herb & Fruit Tea: A refreshing choice with bright lemon flavor that pairs well with earthy add-ins, such as ginger. 
• Wild Strawberry Tea: for a naturally sweet base, our caffeine-free tea is a delightful and delicious choice. 
• Aunt Flow Tea: That time of the month can be stressful, both mentally and physically, so we recommend our soothing Aunt Flow Tea as a balancing option during that time. It contains chocolate honeybush, freeze-dried peaches, and many relaxing herbs that’ll support lower cortisol levels and reduced menstrual discomfort.* Turmeric root is included for its anti-inflammatory properties, which are especially beneficial for individuals struggling with cramps or inflammation caused by stress.* 
• Berry Supreme Herb & Fruit Tea: This amazingly fruity tea creates a sweet base for your cocktail, while enhancing your day with its antioxidant-rich blueberries, apple pieces, and more. 

For more incredible, hydrating tea options, check out our previous article.  

Supportive Add-ins for Stress Management, Anxiety, and Fatigue 

Try these encouraging add-ins to support lower anxiety, replenish electrolytes, and more: 

• Calming Elixir: The name says it all! This extract contains supportive herbs, such as passionflower and skullcap, to help ease anxiety, insomnia, tension, headaches, and nervousness.* If you’re feeling wired, this is one of our favorite elixirs to add to a cortisol cocktail to encourage relaxation. (It’s especially delicious with our Wild Strawberry Herb & Fruit Tea)
• Ashwagandha Root Extract: Ashwagandha is a beloved adaptogen known for its supportive properties for the adrenal glands, stress management, and improved sleep. If you’re struggling with stress management, feeling overly tired, or dealing with insomnia, ashwagandha is a popular choice.* 
• Creatine: This organic compound encourages cellular energy production and improved cognitive function. If you’re struggling with recovery after a workout or energy expenditure, or have poor sleep recovery, try adding a scoop of this to your cortisol cocktail.* 
• Collagen: Adding a scoop of collagen to your cocktail boosts your protein intake and encourages healthier joints, hair, skin, nails, muscles, and bones.* 
• Nature’s Electrolytes Mix: We adore this luscious electrolyte blend, which provides a tropical pineapple coconut flavor to anything it's added to. If you’re wanting a quick, rejuvenating boost, this electrolyte mix hits the spot. 

Our Favorite Cortisol Cocktail Combinations

A quick list of some of our favorite cortisol combinations (don’t forget the pinch of Himalayan salt!): 

• For anxiety support or feeling “wired”: Wild Strawberry Herb & Fruit Tea with our Calming Elixir
• For that time of the month: Aunt Flow Tea with St. John’s Wort Extract (for encouraging emotional health) or Turmeric Extract (for extra anti-inflammatory support)*
• To help replenish electrolytes: Mango Lemande Herb & Fruit Tea with our Nature’s Electrolytes Mix (a perfect tropical drink!) 
• For healthy stress management or insomnia: Purple Seduction Tea with Ashwagandha Extract
• For fighting inflammation and supporting a healthy metabolism: Lemon Cucumber Herb & Fruit Tea with our Turmeric Root Extract*
• For headaches or an overactive nervous system: Berry Supreme Herb & Fruit Tea with our Skullcap Passion Flower Extract*
  
• For deep relaxation and winding down after a difficult day: Coconut Lavender Herb & Fruit Tea with our Melissa/Valerian Extract
• Just for men: Bingo Blueberry Herb & Fruit Tea with For Men Only Extract

We hope these delicious combinations inspire you to make your own cortisol cocktail! Remember, any caffeine-free tea you enjoy makes an excellent base for your beverage. 

We recommend considering the flavor of your add-ins (earthy, flavorless, sweet, etc.) and then choosing a tea that’ll either pair well with it or cover the taste up if you don’t love it on its own. 

Santé, 

Herbalist Natalie

Natalie Hajdu-Voakes is a consulting herbalist and the owner of The Herb Stop, with over 28 years of hands-on experience in crafting herbal remedies and promoting natural wellness.