A new social media health trend claims to reduce not only stress, but also your waistline. But is it a dream come true, or too good to be true?
Well, it depends on who you ask. The cortisol cocktail is the latest internet elixir to attain fans and detractors in equal measure amid claims it helps boost energy, reduce the effects of stress on the body and promote weight loss, particularly in stubborn areas such as the stomach, hips and thighs.
Also known as an “adrenal cocktail”, the drink consists of only four ingredients – orange juice, coconut water, cream of tartar and salt. It has been hailed as a salve for the adrenal glands, had enjoyed their time in the social media spotlight last year, when the medically indefinable “adrenal fatigue” began trending.
“Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which sit atop the kidneys,” says Dr Kishore Kumar Katam, consultant endocrinologist at RAK Hospital. “It plays a critical role in the body's response to stress, as part of the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. It helps regulate metabolism, blood sugar levels, inflammation and blood pressure.”
Cortisol’s role in the body
Typically released in response to stress and low blood glucose levels, cortisol production is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which is highly sensitive to both physical and psychological stressors.
Linked to visceral fat surrounding internal organs and obesity, elevated cortisol levels can cause an increase in appetite and promote fat storage in the abdominal area.
“Excess cortisol can cause central obesity, muscle wasting, insulin resistance, hypertension, osteoporosis, mood disorders and increased cardiovascular risk,” says Dr Nevin Sadeep, specialist endocrinology at Aster Clinic in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
“Both excess and deficiency of cortisol have significant clinical consequences, with a deficiency linked to fatigue, weight loss, hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and risk of adrenal crisis under stress. Maintaining cortisol within a physiologic range is essential for metabolic stability and stress resilience.”
How does a cortisol cocktail work?
The drink's ingredients can vary, but the most popular, as listed above, are orange juice, coconut water, cream of tartar and salt. Taken individually and in moderation, each can play a beneficial role in a balanced diet.
“Coconut water is rich in electrolytes like potassium, which supports hydration and may help reduce stress-related fatigue,” says Dr Hala Youssef Hamdy, specialist endocrinologist at RAK Hospital.
“Orange juice is high in vitamin C, which plays a role in reducing oxidative stress and may help modulate cortisol after acute stress; salt contains trace minerals and sodium, which can support adrenal function in cases of deficiency; and cream of tartar is a source of potassium, but its impact on cortisol specifically is unclear and not well-studied. These ingredients may support overall wellness, but their effects on cortisol are indirect and not medically proven.”
While there’s no scientific evidence that a cortisol cocktail can directly regulate or reduce cortisol production, ingredients that support hydration and blood sugar stability can help the body respond better to stress, which can lead to less fatigue.
“There is no evidence from controlled clinical studies indicating that beverages such as the cortisol cocktail have any clinical meaning or sustained impact on circulating cortisol levels,” says Dr Sadeep. “Any perceived benefit is more likely related to improved hydration and subjective relaxation than to direct hormonal effects."
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Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
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2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
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Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
SUCCESSION%20SEASON%204%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreated%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJesse%20Armstrong%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brian%20Cox%2C%20Jeremy%20Strong%2C%20Kieran%20Culkin%2C%20Sarah%20Snook%2C%20Nicholas%20Braun%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Albania 0 Italy 1
Finland 2 Turkey 2
Macedonia 4 Liechtenstein
Iceland 2 Kosovo 0
Israel 0 Spain 1
Moldova 0 Austria 1
Serbia 1 Georgia 0
Ukraine 0 Croatia 2
Wales 0 Ireland 1
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
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“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
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ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
