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This quick and healthy Adrenal Cocktail recipe is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up! Made with three simple ingredients, it's a great alternative to a second cup of coffee.
Say hello to my latest obsession: an Adrenal Cocktail!
Perhaps you've seen a version of this recipe floating around on Instagram? If not, no worries -- I'm going to fill you in on why this drink is the BEST and why you need to try it yourself.
See, I love a cup of coffee -- specifically cold brew -- but I try to stick to one cup per day. But you know those days when you need a little afternoon pick-me-up? Skip the second cup of coffee and make this healthy and delicious alternative instead.
You might be thinking, "But Erin, how do you know all of this?!" Great question. I've been seeing a functional medicine doctor for the past few months, and she recommended I add an adrenal cocktail to my afternoon regimen.
It's full of whole food vitamin C, potassium and sodium, and won't give you the energy crash that often comes after a cup of joe. Basically, it'll keep you cool and calm while also providing energy.
Why you'll love this drink
- Made with only three ingredients, with a few simple add-ins if you want to bulk it up a bit
- Provides electrolytes, vitamins and minerals in a natural way
- Perfect for anyone who feels tired or sluggish in the afternoon, suffers from adrenal fatigue, and/or feels stressed out throughout the day
- My recipe is simply a guide -- feel free to experiment and use your own ingredient ratios to make it your own!
Ingredients
Orange juice - Make sure to use pulp-free orange juice with the only ingredient being oranges/orange juice. Basically, if you want the full benefits, opt for orange juice without any additives. Not a fan of OJ? Try vitamin C powder instead!
Coconut water - Same thing applies to the coconut water -- simple is best. If you don't like coconut water, try aloe vera juice instead.
Sea salt - Provides sodium, which helps to maintain proper adrenal function and regulate stress
Optional add-ins
Collagen powder - You can't even taste it and you'll get the benefits of collagen (protein, stronger hair and nails, reducing joint pain).
Coconut cream - Adding coconut cream adds healthy fat and makes this drink taste like an orange creamsicle. Seriously, it's good!
Cream of tartar - A little bit goes a long way and it adds potassium
Directions
This recipe is really easy, but here's how you make it:
Pour orange juice and coconut water into a glass and give them a stir, then add the sea salt and stir that in as well. Drink up!
If you opt to add coconut cream, coconut milk or heavy cream, you may want to use your blender so that everything blends up nicely.
Expert tips
- High cortisol tends to be a result of chronic stress, and believe it or not, this drink can aid in the process of reducing stress by providing vitamins and minerals that our bodies need!
- This drink is NOT a meal replacement! I usually enjoy mine one hour before or after eating a snack.
- There are SO many versions of this recipe -- I've tried to include them all in the recipe card below. For example, you can omit the orange juice altogether and just use coconut water, a fresh squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice and sea salt if you prefer.
- Storage: make this ahead of time and store it in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you add the coconut cream, you may need to re-blend before drinking because separation may occur.
What are the health benefits of an adrenal cocktail?
So many! Our adrenal glands can become stressed throughout the day, and this drink helps to replace nutrients that the adrenals use up during stressful times. It can aid in blood sugar, cortisol levels and hormone regulation, too!
When is the best time to make this cocktail?
Either mid-morning, around 10 am, or mid-afternoon, around 2 or 3 pm. Those are the times when our energy tends to crash, so ideally, that's when you'd have this drink. I've been enjoying this once per day during the work week around 2 pm and it's been lovely.
What are the symptoms of adrenal fatigue?
Our adrenal glands are located on top of both kidneys. They help to regulate everything from metabolism, blood pressure, our response to stress and our immune system.
Adrenal fatigue is caused by prolonged stress, which drains the adrenal glands, causes high cortisol and therefore added stress to our bodies. Endocrine web has a great article explaining adrenal fatigue.
Symptoms include: brain fog, tiredness, low energy, strong cravings for salty/sweet foods, and trouble falling asleep and/or waking up.
More healthy drink recipes
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
Adrenal Cocktail
Ingredients
simple recipe:
- ½ cup orange juice
- ½ cup coconut water
- pinch sea salt
optional add-ins:
- 1 scoop collagen powder
- 2 tablespoon coconut cream or full fat coconut milk
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
Instructions
- Stir the orange juice, coconut water and salt together in a glass and drink up! Alternatively, you can add them to a mason jar with a lid and shake to combine.
- If you're adding the optional add-ins -- specifically the coconut cream/milk -- you'll want to add everything to a blender and blend for 10-15 seconds.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Orange juice - can use vitamin C powder instead or omit altogether
- Coconut water - Can use as the main ingredient instead of OJ or omit altogether
- If you DON'T use the orange juice, add 1 tablespoon or lemon or lime juice instead
Moose says
What can be used as a substitute for coconut cream/milk?
Erin says
You don't have to add any sort of milk -- it's optional -- orange juice, coconut water and salt works just fine 🙂
Nadine Daugherty says
So excited to try this as really feel sluggish at 2-3pm and want to jot to drink coffee as only have 2 cup now
Erin says
Yesss I hope this helps!
Hailey says
Does it have to be any specific OJ or can I use frozen concentrate?
Erin says
Preferably orange juice with minimal ingredients if possible!
Eddie Hughes says
I haven’t tried this yet but my good friend Stephanie suggested it instead of the numerous coffee drinks I have daily and then CRASH! Thank you for the great info. I’ll keep you posted Erin.
Erin says
I hope it helps!
Missy Hartwell says
I add vanilla zero sugar Greek yogurt to mine to add some protein and make it more filling.
Erin says
Hi, why isn’t it recommend to use OJ with pulp?
Thanks!
Erin says
Great question! You definitely CAN use OJ with pulp, but I've read it's gentler on the gut/stomach if you use pulp-free.
Amy Beth says
Absolutely love this! I've told so many people about how it's helped me. I've been having one everyday to recover from the stress of my job which I just quit! It's very enjoyable to drink and the benefits are noticeable immediately.
Erin says
That's wonderful -- I'm so glad it's helped!
Stephanie says
This is where the adrenal cocktail originates: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/faq-adrenal-cocktail-recipes/
I followed the root cause protocol to cure me of long covid and fatigue.
Jennifer says
Great link! Thank you for sharing - gives a few more options on how to adjust and suit different needs 🙂
Deborah says
I was talking with my chiropractor and she said i should try this recipe. thank you for posting the amount and the potential add-ins. i need to reduce the damage of stress and increase my sleep. i hope this helps. 🙂
Erin says
Wonderful! I hope it helps as well 🙂
Jessica says
Do you need to drink this as soon as you make it or can I make it ahead of time and bring it to work?
Erin says
You can make it ahead of time!
Mina says
Thank you so much for this recipe! Instant health benefits. I have been doing a lot of research on functional medicine so I love that you are seeing one! I used organic ingredients and only added a piece of organic ginger to this recipe. It’s tasty and provides instant benefits of energy and motivation. Thank you thank you for this recipe and all your information! God bless you 🙂
Olivia says
Tastes so good and so easy to make!
Erin says
I'm glad you liked it!
Angie says
I love this recipe. Where can I get more of your recipes?
Erin says
All of my recipes can be found on this site, thealmondeater.com, under the "browse recipes" section.
Laura says
That was delicious!!! The addition of coconut cream (and collagen) was genius!!!
I mean OJ with salt and cream of tarter make a great natural “hydration tablet” but the coconut cream makes it sooooo yummy!!! Guess the fats help with the vitamin absorption?!
Erin says
Thanks for the positive review, Laura -- you're right, the coconut cream is a game-changer!
Sarah says
Can I do this without coconut water? Just use the Oj? Or even water with lemon? Would it have similar benefits?
Erin says
Great question! I wouldn't do water as a base, because it's not going to have the same benefits. If you don't want to use coconut water, try using orange juice with a pinch of cream of tartar and a pinch of sea salt. You can also add collagen or coconut cream (from a can) to it as well. I hope this helps!
Rebecca says
I don't think your nutrition info is right. It says sodium 127 mgs. There is way more sodium in a 1/4 tsp. of salt isn't there? Like 530 mgs? Might depend on the salt. The recipe looks great though! Can you clarify?
Erin says
Great question! I use an automated nutrition calculator, which is why I always state that it's an estimation. You may want to put the ingredients into a calculator if you want to double check the info.
Crystal says
Hi! I’m just curious why you need to use the pulp free OJ?
Erin says
No need -- sorry for the confusion! You can definitely use OJ with pulp if you prefer.