{"id":2752,"date":"2023-08-13T14:00:55","date_gmt":"2023-08-13T19:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/?p=2752"},"modified":"2023-08-13T09:19:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-13T14:19:19","slug":"elle-sez-series-health-and-wellness-adrenal-cocktails-what-are-they-and-do-they-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/?p=2752","title":{"rendered":"Elle Sez Series: Health and Wellness – Adrenal Cocktails: What Are They and Do They Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Elle Sez Series: Health and Wellness - Adrenal Cocktails: What Are They and Do They Work?<\/b><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hoping to combat stress and fatigue? These trendy \u2019mocktails\u2019 aren\u2019t your best choice.<\/p> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\tJob stress? Poor sleep habits? No time to cook fresh foods? We live in a fast-paced world, with plenty of challenges to maintaining good health.

\nSo, when we find ourselves routinely grappling with conditions like fatigue, sleepless nights, trouble concentrating and all-around burnout, it\u2019s tempting to seek out a speedy fix.

\n\nEnter the adrenal cocktail, a trendy, good-tasting, nonalcoholic drink that promises to help your body fight stress and maintain peak performance.

\n\nThe question is: Do adrenal cocktails deliver all they promise?

\n\nWe spoke with endocrinologist Pratibha Rao, MD, MPH, about the possible role these drinks might play in adrenal health.

\nWhat is an adrenal cocktail? <\/b>

\n\nA magic elixir? A shortcut to good health? A fast way to fight off fatigue and the effects of stress? Those claims \u2014 and plenty more \u2014 have been made about the trendy adrenal cocktail, a nonalcoholic beverage that typically contains orange juice, coconut water and a big pinch of sea salt. Other ingredients in an adrenal cocktail could include coconut milk and cream of tartar, as well as spices like ginger.

\nAre there benefits to adrenal cocktails? <\/b>

\n\nLet\u2019s look at the claims.

\n\nAt their most basic, the claims for adrenal cocktails are that they fight adrenal fatigue and support adrenal gland health.

\n\nAccording to the cocktail\u2019s promoters, the combination of vitamin C (from orange juice), sodium (from the sea salt) and potassium (from the coconut water, and the cream of tartar if you use it) replenishes the body\u2019s hardworking adrenal glands.

\n\nYour adrenal glands are small, triangular organs that sit atop your kidneys and make vital hormones like aldosterone, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Medical research confirms that those adrenal hormones are essential for duties like regulating heart rate, ensuring electrolyte balance and maintaining blood pressure, among other responsibilities.

\n\nThey also play a role in how your body reacts to stress. According to the National Institutes of Health, during times of stress, your adrenal glands rapidly respond by increasing secretions of specific hormones, which affect metabolism. This helps boost your energy level, increase your blood pressure and signal your immune system to relax.

\n\nGiven all their important work, who wouldn\u2019t want to keep those adrenal glands wide awake and functioning at their best?

\nBut is adrenal fatigue a thing? <\/b>

\n\nProbably not. Much like your heart or lungs, your adrenal glands have a huge functional capacity and don\u2019t get tired out.

\n\nAs far as the term goes, Dr. Rao says she\u2019s familiar with adrenal fatigue. \u201cBut in the medical profession, our practice is based on evidence,\u201d she says, \u201cand there is no evidence that adrenal fatigue exists.\u201d

\n\nNor is there evidence that these cocktails nourish or support the adrenal glands, beyond what a healthy diet provides.

\n\nOn the other hand, there is a rare medical condition known as adrenal insufficiency. In adrenal insufficiency, your adrenal glands don\u2019t function properly and can\u2019t secrete the vital hormones your body needs. This is a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, lack of appetite and extreme exhaustion. If you experience these types of symptoms, a prompt visit to a healthcare provider is in order.

\nAre adrenal cocktails safe? <\/b>

\n\nIf you\u2019re in good health, don\u2019t have diabetes or kidney disease, or any condition that calls for fluid restriction, there\u2019s nothing in an adrenal cocktail that\u2019s harmful, says Dr. Rao. In fact, the combination of water, glucose and sodium is well known to the medical community as \u201coral rehydration solution,\u201d where it serves as a way to treat dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting.

\n\n\u201cSo, while there\u2019s no evidence that adrenal cocktails can improve adrenal function, I don\u2019t think they do any harm,\u201d she says.

\nWho should avoid adrenal cocktails? <\/b>

\n\n
  • If you\u2019re on dialysis or have been diagnosed with kidney failure or chronic kidney disease, talk with your healthcare provider before trying an adrenal cocktail. The drink\u2019s high potassium level could lead to potential harm, Dr. Rao cautions. <\/li>
  • \nIf you\u2019ve been diagnosed with diabetes, the sugar content in an adrenal cocktail could cause problems in blood-sugar regulation, especially as the drink lacks sugar-regulating nutrients like fiber and protein. <\/li>
  • \nIf you\u2019re watching your weight, consider the calories in an adrenal cocktail. Eight ounces of orange juice contain 110 calories and 8 ounces of coconut water has about 60 calories. Plain water? Zero calories. <\/li><\/ul>

    \n\nDo I need<\/i> an adrenal cocktail?<\/b>

    \n\nAdrenal cocktail proponents give many reasons why they\u2019re good for your health. Here are a few, and how they stand up to medical scrutiny:

    \nThe claim: Adrenal cocktails support hydration<\/b><\/i>

    \n\nThe evidence:

    \n\n
    • Adrenal cocktails do provide hydration and are probably more healthful (and certainly less expensive) than sports drinks. <\/li>
    • \nBut: If you\u2019re already drinking plenty of water, says Dr. Rao, adrenal cocktails aren\u2019t necessary. <\/li><\/ul>\n\nThe claim: Adrenal cocktails provide potassium<\/b><\/i>

      \n\nThe evidence:

      \n\n
      • Adrenal cocktails do contain orange juice, coconut water and, sometimes, cream of tartar. These can be good sources of potassium, which is an essential mineral needed by all tissues in the body. <\/li>
      • \nBut: Many common foods contain potassium. If you\u2019re already eating a diet that includes things like avocados, leafy greens, oranges or orange juice, bananas, potatoes or yogurt, you probably have your potassium needs covered. <\/li><\/ul>

        \n\nThe claim: Adrenal cocktails replenish electrolyte balance<\/b><\/i>

        \n\nThe evidence:

        \n\n
        • Your body does need to maintain a balance of minerals in your blood. Both the potassium and sodium in adrenal cocktails play important roles in maintaining that balance. <\/li>
        • \nBut: Our bodies need far more potassium than sodium each day. Yet the typical U.S. diet is just the opposite. The extra sodium provided by the cocktail\u2019s sea salt isn\u2019t necessary for good health. Adopting a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water are far more beneficial for maintaining an electrolyte balance, says Dr. Rao. <\/li><\/ul>

          \n\nThe claim: Adrenal cocktails fight fatigue<\/b><\/i>

          \n\nThe evidence:

          \n\n
          • Cool, refreshing and with a bit of naturally occurring sugar from the orange juice, an adrenal cocktail can temporarily make you feel more alert. <\/li>
          • \nBut: \u201cIf you stayed well hydrated and ate healthy food, you probably wouldn\u2019t feel so low to begin with,\u201d states Dr. Rao, \u201cnor so rejuvenated after you drank one.\u201d <\/li><\/ul>

            \n\nAlternatives to adrenal cocktails<\/b>

            \n\nFor people in good health, without diabetes or kidney disease, and who aren\u2019t watching their calories, adrenal cocktails are probably harmless. \u201cYou get your simple carbs, some water, the much-needed potassium, some vitamin C and a lot of other nutrients,\u201d Dr. Rao concedes. \u201cSo, if a healthy person wants to drink one on occasion, there\u2019s no problem.\u201d

            \n\nBut she emphasizes that lifestyle issues, or perhaps some yet undiagnosed medical condition, are likely to play a much larger role in your symptoms than any type of adrenal problem.

            \n\n\u201cWhen you\u2019re eating fast food, are constantly on the go, and are feeling stressed and fatigued, you can find yourself in a bad situation,\u201d she says. \u201cIf someone says to you, \u2018Hey, here\u2019s this magic potion that\u2019s going to get rid of your stress,\u2019 why would anyone turn it down?\u201d

            \n\nHowever, Dr. Rao suggests that we instead look for ways to improve our daily lives.

            \n\nHer No. 1 tip for busting stress is this: \u201cTake 10 minutes a day for yourself, every day of your life.\u201d During that time, she recommends practicing deep breathing, meditation or even taking a short walk. \u201cBe mindful,\u201d she continues. \u201cTake the pause. Because otherwise, the stress hormones keep rising.\u201d

            \n\nOther tips for minimizing the effects of stress on your body include:

            \n\n
            • Avoiding processed foods. <\/li>
            • \nMoving toward a plant-based diet. <\/li>
            • \nDrinking an adequate amount of fluid every day \u2013 enough that your pee is the color of light lemonade. <\/li>
            • \nEstablishing a regular sleep routine. <\/li>
            • \nEngaging in regular physical activity. <\/li><\/ul>

              \n\nHow can a healthcare provider help? <\/b>

              \n\nDon\u2019t forget the importance of your regular annual physical, says Dr. Rao. \u201cYour primary healthcare provider is your gateway to appropriate medical care. During your exam, they will notice if there have been changes in your blood pressure or blood sugar, or if your weight has changed. And if there is something drastic going on with your body, they can treat it.\u201d\n\nIn addition, if you find yourself bothered by extreme fatigue that limits your lifestyle, and issues like chronic nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, these can be symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. Under those conditions, your primary care provider would probably refer you to an endocrinologist for further testing.

              \n\n\u201cMost often, adrenal insufficiency comes on very gradually,\u201d Dr. Rao says. \u201cSo, if you are having the above symptoms, and you\u2019ve been eating healthy, sleeping well and doing everything right, then you need to be checked out.

              \n\n\u201cThings like adrenal cocktails might seem helpful in the short term,\u201d she concludes. \u201cBut they don\u2019t help in diagnosing or treating the underlying problem. At that point, a trip to your healthcare provider is in order.\u201d


              \n\nContributor: ClevelandClinic.org<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Elle Sez Series: Health and Wellness – Adrenal Cocktails: What Are They and Do They Work? Hoping to combat stress and fatigue? These trendy \u2019mocktails\u2019 aren\u2019t your best choice. Job stress? Poor sleep habits? No time to cook fresh foods? We live in a fast-paced world, with plenty of challenges to maintaining good health. So, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2752"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2755,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2752\/revisions\/2755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}