Best Drinks for High Cortisol

Plain water, fruit-infused water, and caffeine-free herbal tea are practical first choices for people concerned about high cortisol, although none is proven to treat it. These drinks can support hydration without adding caffeine, but they are not substitutes for an evaluation of a high cortisol test or concerning symptoms.

Cortisol is a hormone involved in the body’s response to stress and in many everyday functions. Its level changes throughout the day, so a higher reading does not always mean there is a medical problem. For related guidance, browse natural remedies by health goal.

5 drinks for high cortisol: the quick list

The five options below are choices for hydration or nourishment, not a ranking based on proven cortisol-lowering effects. If you are concerned about symptoms, the ai symptom analyzer can help you organize questions for a clinician; it cannot diagnose a cortisol disorder.

1. Plain water

Why choose it: Water supports normal hydration and the everyday work of the body’s organs. It contains no caffeine or added sugar, making it a useful default if you are trying to reduce drinks that interfere with sleep or leave you feeling overstimulated.

How to use it: Drink water with meals and between meals according to your thirst and circumstances. Keeping a glass or refillable bottle nearby can make it easier to drink regularly without forcing a large amount at once.

Evidence: We found no studies showing that plain water treats high cortisol. Drinking enough water is sensible for general health, but drinking extra water is not an established way to correct a high cortisol result.

2. Fruit-infused water

Why choose it: Fruit-infused water is mostly water, so its main benefit is hydration. A mild flavor may make water more appealing if you find plain water difficult to drink regularly; it does not make the water a cortisol treatment.

How to use it: Choose water flavored with washed fruit or cucumber rather than a sweetened bottled drink. Wash fresh produce under running water and refrigerate the infused water. See detox water for high cortisol for ideas.

Evidence: We found no drink-specific studies showing that fruit-infused water lowers high cortisol. Despite the name, it does not flush toxins: the liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste. Sweat removes only trace amounts.

3. Caffeine-free herbal tea

Why choose it: A caffeine-free herbal tea, such as plain rooibos, offers another way to drink fluid without the stimulating effects of caffeine. A warm drink may also be a pleasant part of a winding-down routine, although any relaxing effect varies from person to person.

How to use it: Prepare a caffeine-free tea according to its package directions and drink it plain or with a small amount of milk if you like. Check the label: a blend can contain several herbs, and a product labeled decaffeinated is not necessarily caffeine-free. Explore the best tea for high cortisol for more choices.

Evidence: We found no studies establishing that caffeine-free herbal tea treats high cortisol. Do not assume that every herbal ingredient is safe or effective simply because it is sold as tea.

4. Plain milk or unsweetened fortified soy beverage

Why choose it: Plain milk and unsweetened fortified soy beverages provide fluid as well as nutrients, including protein. They can be useful alongside a meal or snack when you want something more substantial than water. The nutrients and ingredients in soy beverages vary, so check the label.

How to use it: Choose a version you tolerate and enjoy, and consider an unsweetened option if you want to limit added sugar. Avoid milk if you have a milk allergy and soy beverages if you have a soy allergy; lactose-free milk may be an option for some people with lactose intolerance, but not for someone with a milk allergy.

Evidence: We found no studies showing that either drink lowers high cortisol. Their role here is to provide fluid and nourishment, not to act as a hormone treatment.

5. Unsweetened fruit and yogurt smoothie

Why choose it: A smoothie made with fruit and plain yogurt can provide fluid along with nutrients from its ingredients. It is more substantial than infused water, so it can fit as part of a meal or snack rather than being treated as a replacement for all the water you drink.

How to use it: Choose a smoothie made with whole fruit and plain yogurt, and check prepared versions for added sugars. A suitable dairy-free yogurt can be an option if you avoid dairy; its protein and other nutrients may differ. Find more ideas in smoothies for high cortisol.

Evidence: We found no studies showing that a fruit and yogurt smoothie treats high cortisol. For broader meal ideas, see best foods for high cortisol.

Which drinks should you limit or avoid?

Caffeinated drinks: Coffee, caffeinated tea, energy drinks, and some soft drinks can temporarily raise cortisol, and caffeine can interfere with sleep or make some people feel jittery. You do not necessarily have to eliminate caffeine, but consider cutting back or having it earlier in the day if you notice those effects. Energy drinks deserve particular caution because their caffeine content can vary substantially.

Alcohol: Alcohol can disrupt sleep and has health risks unrelated to cortisol. Limiting or avoiding it is a more reliable health choice than using it to relax, but cutting back is not a substitute for investigating a high cortisol result.

Licorice-root tea and concentrated herbal blends: Licorice root can raise blood pressure and lower potassium, especially with regular or large amounts. Avoid it if you have high blood pressure or heart or kidney disease, and ask a clinician or pharmacist about herbal products if you are pregnant or take medications. Blends marketed for stress may contain multiple ingredients with uncertain benefits or interactions.

Sweetened drinks: A sweetened drink is not automatically responsible for high cortisol, but frequent added sugar can make it harder to meet your overall nutrition goals. Choose the unsweetened options above more often if that suits your needs.

How much should you drink?

There is no special amount of any drink established for high cortisol. Aim for an amount that meets your general fluid needs, rather than forcing down extra water in the hope of changing a hormone result.

For context, the U.S. National Academies’ general adequate daily total water intakes are about 2.7 L, or 11.4 cups, for adult women and 3.7 L, or 15.6 cups, for adult men. These estimates include water from food and all beverages; they are not amounts of plain water to drink on top of everything else.

Individual needs vary with activity, heat, pregnancy, health, and other factors. Thirst and pale-yellow urine can be useful everyday guides, although urine color can also be affected by foods, supplements, and medicines. If you have kidney or heart disease, or have been told to limit fluids, follow your clinician’s plan rather than a general target.

When should you see a doctor?

Make an appointment if you have a high cortisol test result or symptoms that concern you, such as unexplained weight gain around the trunk and face, wide purple stretch marks, easy bruising, muscle weakness, or high blood pressure. These signs can have several causes; they do not establish a diagnosis. A clinician can consider the timing and type of any test, your symptoms, and whether further testing is appropriate.

Tell your clinician about all medicines and supplements you use, including prescribed steroid medicines such as prednisone or steroid inhalers. Do not stop or change a prescribed steroid on your own. Ask for individual advice before using herbal products during pregnancy or breastfeeding, giving them to children, or combining them with medicines.

Seek emergency care for severe symptoms such as chest pain, severe trouble breathing, fainting, or new confusion, whatever the suspected cause. For other non-drink approaches, see home remedies for high cortisol.