Adrenal glands—two small glands located just above the kidneys—play a vital role in regulating many of the body's processes, including blood pressure, metabolism, immune system responses, stress responses, and more. The adrenal glands are responsible for releasing many hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenal cocktails—blends of orange juice, cream of tartar, and other ingredients—may help to regulate adrenal health. Here, we'll explore the basics of adrenaline and cortisol, the potential health benefits of adrenal cocktails, and recipes for health cocktails, including those that provide adrenal support.
What is adrenaline?
Also known as epinephrine, adrenaline is responsible for the body's fight-or-flight response, which can be triggered during a stressful situation. Adrenaline can also be released in response to intense physical activity (like a hard workout) or during times of excitement. Short bursts of adrenaline can be helpful in dangerous situations. The hormone can cause a number of physical effects, including increased heart rate, dilated airways, increased energy availability, and increased blood flow to the muscles.
While some adrenaline is necessary for healthy functioning, too much can have negative mental and physical health effects. Chronic stress can cause the adrenal glands to release adrenaline too frequently, which can cause health issues like high blood pressure, sleeping difficulties, shortness of breath, high blood sugar, heart palpitations and anxiety.
What is cortisol?
Cortisol and adrenaline are closely related. When adrenal glands detect stress, they often release cortisol. The hormone is also released in response to low blood sugar levels. Like adrenaline, cortisol plays many roles in the body. The hormone helps the body manage stress, control inflammation, regulate metabolism, maintain healthy sleep-wake cycles, and more.
When cortisol is released too frequently, it can cause negative health effects, including high blood pressure, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, and irritability. Cortisol also plays a role in the development of visceral fat—the dangerous belly fat that surrounds the organs, increasing the likelihood of stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Stress management and adrenal health
As you can see, both cortisol and adrenaline are vital hormones for wellness, but they need to be released in appropriate amounts. Stress management techniques—including regular, moderate intensity exercise and eating a whole food diet—can help. While some stress is a normal part of life, it's important to lower chronic stress when possible. If you notice that a particular part of your life is causing stress that makes it difficult to cope (such as a high-stress job), it may be worth exploring whether you can change these circumstances to benefit your overall health.
Benefits of adrenal cocktails
If you're already living a healthy lifestyle and still feel that your adrenal health could use some support, you may be interested in giving adrenal cocktails a try. Adrenal cocktails—a mixture of coconut water, salt, cream of tartar, and orange juice—are currently in the spotlight on social media. According to fans of the drinks, adrenal cocktails are loaded with potassium, vitamin C, and sodium, all of which can support adrenal health.
Fans of adrenal cocktails say that some of the benefits they notice include:
- Increased energy levels
- Increased hydration
- Reduced stress
- Improved mood
- Support for healthy weight management
The research is still out on whether these cocktails are effective, but if you like the taste of adrenal cocktails, and you notice a positive difference in how you feel, they may be a good fit for you. While many people on social media are touting the benefits of the combination for their ability to heal "adrenal fatigue," it's important to note that most medical professionals do not recognize the term. If you believe you may have an adrenal issue, it's a good idea to reach out to your primary care provider or schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist (a medical doctor who specializes in hormone health).
Adrenal cocktail recipes
If you're curious about whether adrenal cocktails could be a good fit for you, we've got you. Check out these recipes:
- Tropical morning cocktail: 1/2 c. orange juice, 1/4 c. coconut water, 2 tablespoons full fat coconut milk, 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
- Hormone health mimosa: 1 c. coconut water, 1/4 c. orange juice, 200mg magnesium powder, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, 4 oz. sparkling water
- Pre-workout power-up: 2 c. coconut water, 1/2 c. orange juice, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, 2 tbs. vanilla protein powder, 1/2 scoop collagen powder
Other wellness cocktails
Whether you're thinking about replacing your daily go-to cocktail with a more wellness-focused option or you're looking for a cocktail recipe that can help you take your health to the next level, wellness cocktails are a delicious way to add more nutrition to your day.
Some of our current favorite wellness cocktails include:
- Immune booster: 3 oz. brewed iced tea, 1 tsp. honey, 2 oz. pineapple juice, 2 oz. orange juice, 1 oz. lemon juice, 1 tbs. grated ginger, 1/4 tsp. turmeric
- Summer hydration: 8 oz. watermelon juice, 1 tbs. lemon juice, 2 mint leaves, frozen watermelon cubes for garnish
- Cucumber cooler: 2 oz. cucumber juice, 1/2 oz. simple syrup, 1 oz. lime juice, 1/2 c. sparkling water
Support your nutrition goals with Evidation
At Evidation, we're here to help you work toward your health goals. Whether you're just getting started with tracking your nutrition or you've been enjoying the benefits of healthy eating for years, our app can help you take your wellness to the next level. We help you make the most of the health data you're already tracking.
When you download our app, you'll be asked which health tracking apps you'd like to connect and some basic information about your health and daily habits (your privacy is our top concern—you can choose to stop sharing your data at any time). From there, we'll analyze the data you choose to share with us to find patterns and insights that can inform your next steps forward. We'll use your information to provide you with personalized, content-based insights that you can use to support your health goals. Click here to learn more about Evidation and get started today.
