In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Are Adrenal Glands?What Is the “Adrenal Cocktail”—and Is It Healthy?Adrenal Fatigue vs. Adrenal InsufficiencyHow to Tell If Your Adrenal Glands Are Not Working Properly
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
What Are Adrenal Glands?
What Is the “Adrenal Cocktail”—and Is It Healthy?
Adrenal Fatigue vs. Adrenal Insufficiency
How to Tell If Your Adrenal Glands Are Not Working Properly
Photo: Getty Images
Remember the lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water tonic that took over diet culture circa 2019 afterBeyoncédid the master cleanse? Or how about theapple-cider vinegar cleansesthat went viral on social media in 2017?
Taste buds (and teeth—eek, all that acid!) around the world are grateful those fads have faded. Hot on the heels of those drink trends, though, entered the buzzy bevies known as adrenal cocktails.
Read on as dietitians explain what the adrenal glands are, the purported purpose of the adrenal cocktail and how to make one.
Adrenal glands are small, triangular-shaped organs that sit on top of each kidney. They’re responsible for making different hormones like cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline and noradrenaline.
“These hormones help with electrolyte balance, blood pressure regulation, how your body reacts to stress and managing blood sugar,” saysRoxana Ehsani, RD, CSSD, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Miami and a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The hypothalamus, a small part of the brain that controls hormones, directs the adrenal glands. The glands work with other endocrine system elements like the kidneys, pituitary gland and sympathetic nervous system to help the body bounce back from stressors, fight off foreign invaders, metabolize food for energy and reproduce.
These hormones are vital for our survival. And while it is possible to survive after both adrenal glands have been surgically removed, medication is required for the rest of the lifespan to replace those hormones synthetically.
The Best Foods for Hormone Health, According to a Dietitian
It’s possible to support adrenal gland functioning through simple things many of us already do, says Ehsani, like:
Fresh orange juice—or pureed, peeled oranges—coconut water and sea salt are the most common building blocks. Some adrenal cocktail recipes include other elements like collagen powder in an attempt to support joints, magnesium powder to promote regularity, coconut cream for satisfying fat or cream of tartar with hopes to boost potassium and balance sodium levels.
“This adrenal cocktail is a beverage rich in electrolytes. The claim is that it will help ‘replenish’ your adrenal glands, and replenish your electrolyte balance,” says Ehsani.
It’s a drink rich in two majorelectrolytes—sodium and potassium—as well as vitamin C. So it will help replenish electrolytes if you’re depleted. But sodium and potassium are found in many other foods and drinks too.
Sodium is found in salt, of course, as well as salty foods, many packaged foods like crackers, condiments, sauces, marinades andultra-processed foods. “Most Americans are actually consuming too much sodium in their diets,” says Ehsani.
4 Ways to Help Flush Out Excess Sodium from Your Body
Americans tend to be a bit less likely to meet their potassium intake goals, but it’s still very possible to do with whole foods. You can get your daily dose ofpotassiumfrom fruits, veggies, legumes and dairy products, such as yogurt.
Andvitamin Cis found in fruits and veggies like citrus fruits, kiwi and bell peppers.
“This drink might not be necessary if you are consuming all these foods and an overall balanced diet,” says Ehsani.
That said, it’s a refreshing blend of nonalcoholic liquids, so “it’s definitely safe to drink,” adds Ehsani—unless you have high blood pressure or diabetes since this drink is high in carbohydrates and sodium, which may affect blood sugar and blood pressure.
“Adrenal fatigue is a theory that claims chronic stress has caused adrenal glands to not work. It, however, is not a real medical diagnosis or medical condition,” says Ehsani. “We may be hearing more of this lately, as people may be suffering from a persistent symptom that they can’t find a clear diagnosis from their medical provider about, such as a chronic headache or stomachache.”
“While some physicians, health care practitioners and individuals will use this term as if it were a true medical diagnosis, endocrinologists, the experts in hormone health, do not agree,” says Shaw.
Hormones and Our Health: How What We Eat May Affect How They Work
Two common signs and symptoms people associate with poor adrenal health include tiredness and extreme fatigue, “which unfortunately seems to be affecting many these days,” says Shaw.
According to Ehsani, symptoms of an adrenal gland disorder go further, and might include any or all of the following:
Blood and imaging tests are available from medical providers to diagnose a true adrenal gland disorder, says Ehsani.
The Bottom Line
An overall healthy lifestyle, including a well-balanced diet, whatever physical activity brings you joy,self-care strategiesand social activities will benefit your brain and body and should be more than adequate to promote adrenal health for most people.
“As a society, we’re constantly looking for new nutrition and dietary trends to jump on, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, given that most Americans are experiencing financial hardships and inflation is high, I would remind individuals they do not have to add a trendy cocktail to their daily menu in order to benefit their health—and adrenal glands,” says Shaw.
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