Cortisol cocktails are everywhere on social media. Here's what they won't tell you

Social media wellness influencers often oversimplify the role of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, by labeling it as the main cause of weight gain and fatigue and promoting unproven supplements and “cortisol cocktails.” Experts, including Dr. Matthew Badgett from the Cleveland Clinic, clarify that cortisol is just one of many factors in metabolism and that claims about “adrenal fatigue” are unfounded. Testing cortisol accurately requires multiple or specialized tests rather than a single blood test. Reducing stress through healthy lifestyle habits can naturally lower cortisol and support weight loss.