What is an adrenal cocktail?

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Proponents claim that an adrenal cocktail, which is a nonalcoholic beverage, boosts the function of the adrenal glands. The three main ingredients include:

• orange juice
• coconut water
• sea salt

Some recipes also include optional ingredients such as:

• collagen powder
• cream of tartar
• coconut cream

Recipe

Below is an example of an adrenal cocktail recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup coconut water
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Directions

Put ingredients in a blender and mix till smooth. Pour into a glass and drink immediately.

The adrenal glands are two small glands located on top of the kidneys. They make hormones that regulate the following:

• blood pressure
• metabolism
• immune system
• stress response

The glands are also responsible for producing body odor and pubic hair and promoting:

• proper function of the heart and blood vessels
• utilization of fats and carbohydrates
• the ability to handle stress
• healthy distribution of stored fat
• gastrointestinal function

Purported benefits stem from the orange juice and coconut water.

Oranges

Oranges and other citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C, an antioxidant necessary for the proper function of the immune system, which helps protect against disease. Other functions of vitamin C include:

• helping make collagen, a protein that promotes wound healing
• boosting immune system functioning, which helps protect against disease
• improving iron absorption from plant-based foods

In addition to vitamin C, oranges contain:

• vitamin A
• folate
• potassium
• antioxidant pigments, such as beta-cryptoxanthin

Coconut water

Coconut water contains electrolytes, including:

• potassium
• sodium
• magnesium
• phosphorus

Some studies have found that tender coconut water, which comes from green coconuts, has anti-inflammatory properties.

Because it is water, it has hydrating properties, but no evidence indicates it hydrates better than plain water. Additionally, although proponents claim it has various benefits, such as supporting aging and preventing heart attacks, no scientific proof supports the claims.

Despite a lack of evidence of specific health benefits, coconut water often contains fewer calories and less added sugar compared to sodas and other sugary beverages, making it a healthier choice.

Because orange juice contains natural sugar, a person with diabetes should ask their doctor if an adrenal cocktail will cause a problem for their blood sugar control.

In general, any person should talk with their doctor if they plan to try an adrenal cocktail, as all sugary beverages can harm other aspects of health.

The sea salt and cream of tartar may also pose risks.

Sea salt

Sea salt undergoes less processing than table salt, so it contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients. However, there is no advantage to consuming sea salt because a person can obtain these minerals by eating a variety of other foods.

Salt consumption has links to high blood pressure. Older animal research from 2016 suggests that a diet containing sea salt produces less blood pressure elevation than a diet with table salt. Despite this possible benefit, no evidence indicates that ingesting a quarter of a teaspoon of sea salt in a beverage is advantageous.

Many people in the United States consume a diet that is high in salt. Because adrenal cocktails contain additional salt, they may not benefit anyone, particularly those with high blood pressure.

Cream of tartar

An older 2012 study notes that some adrenal cocktail recipes include cream of tarter because it is a rich source of potassium.

However, consuming too much cream of tartar in a single beverage can cause potentially dangerous side effects.

Conventional doctors do not widely accept the concept of adrenal fatigue. Evidence found that it is a myth as no research substantiates it.

Conversely, complementary medicine practitioners believe it is a condition that is a subclinical form of adrenal insufficiency. Subclinical means it is not severe enough to cause symptoms or for blood tests to detect.

These practitioners assert that adrenal fatigue may happen over time when the adrenal glands become taxed while working hard to meet high stress demands on the body. They say indications of the condition may include:

• tiredness
• difficulty concentrating
• craving sweet or salty snacks

According to these practitioners, when this happens, sustained high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can lead to reduced adrenal responsiveness and result in decreased hormone production.

However, conventional doctors do recognize adrenal insufficiency. It occurs when the adrenal glands do not make enough of certain hormones. This leads to the body’s inability to respond sufficiently to stress and maintain essential life functions.

Common symptoms include:

• chronic, or long lasting, tiredness
• loss of appetite and weight loss
• muscle weakness
• abdominal pain

An adrenal cocktail is a beverage that proponents assert fights adrenal fatigue. While conventional doctors do not recognize this as a medical condition, complementary practitioners define it as suboptimal functioning of the adrenal gland due to long-term stress.

Two of the main components of the cocktail, orange juice and coconut water, have some nutritional benefits.

However, adrenal cocktails have a high sugar content, and doctors recommend that everyone limits their intake of sugary drinks.

Although sea salt may not raise blood pressure as much as table salt, anyone with high blood pressure should check with a doctor before taking the beverage.

Additionally, the optional ingredient of cream of tarter may cause side effects if taken in large amounts., so anyone with kidney disease or who takes potassium-increasing medications should avoid it. Those who want to include it should use only a tiny amount.