Cortisol cocktails

The Brief

Welcome back, Wellworthy readers.

Remember when wellness TikTok was buzzing about cortisol cocktails?

The trend may have faded, but obsessing over the hormone definitely hasn't. Suddenly, every powder and packaged snack promises to alleviate your stress.

To figure out what’s legit, we asked a nutritionist how food actually impacts your cortisol levels.

Here’s what’s inside:

• A ZOE nutritionist’s take on eating for stress

• Deck-side Pilates and IV drips on Alo's new wellness superyacht

• IN THE CART: Canned cod for athletes, Erewhon's sneaker collection, and a liquid supplement for a racing heart
  

Here we go!

— Jake & Joana

The Breakdown

Cortisol is an essential hormone that helps you wake up in the morning, turns your food into energy, and manages your body's internal stress levels. 

But social media constantly tells us to lower it, creating a massive market for quick-fix supplements and viral drinks.

Why it matters

That gap between real human biology and online trends is massive and misleading.

We asked Dr. Federica Amati, Head Nutritionist at ZOE, what people should know about food, stress, and viral nutrition trends:

• Cortisol isn’t the enemy. Your body needs the hormone for energy, focus, exercise, and daily function. The real problem starts when stress becomes chronic and cortisol stays elevated long-term.

• Blood sugar affects your stress response. Meals high in sugar and low in fiber can trigger energy crashes that disrupt mood, sleep, and cortisol regulation.

• Your gut helps regulate stress. Fiber-rich foods and a diverse range of plants support the gut-brain connection, which is tied to mood, inflammation, and nervous system balance.

• Patterns matter more than quick fixes. No single drink or supplement can offset chronic stress, poor sleep, or unstable nutrition habits over time.

The takeaway

Cortisol isn't a switch you can flip on or off, but nutrition can influence how your body responds to stress over time. While trendy wellness cocktails may support the routine, they work best alongside daily habits — like eating balanced meals, staying hydrated, prioritizing fiber, and getting enough sleep.

Just Dropped

New products and drops spotted → 

Supplements & nutrition

Apothékary just dropped Power Trip, a caffeine-free daily energy drop. The hero ingredient is NMN, a compound tied to longevity because it helps train your cells to generate their own energy. Blended with other earthy, non-stimulant adaptogens, it’s a solid energy-alternative to caffeine. Get your fix.

FELR just launched its Sleep Support + Recovery supplement for men. The  idea is to support nighttime recovery without relying on melatonin or heavy sedatives. Instead, they use a transparent, five-ingredient stack built around magnesium, L-theanine, and apigenin to support deep sleep and healthy testosterone levels overnight. Sleep deeper.

DIOME launched Grounded, a daily stress supplement that comes in a liquid pouch. Rather than targeting just symptoms related to mood, it leans on a botanical blend of hawthorn, passionflower, and lemon balm to go after physical symptoms of stress, like a racing heart and a tight gut. Get grounded.

David just released Canned Cod. The brand tried its hand at cod before, launching flash-frozen Pacific cod fillets in 2025. Cod is one of the most protein dense foods out there, so even if this is just a viral stunt, it plays into their ethos of building protein-packed products. Each tin delivers 18 grams of protein in just 70 calories. Stock the pantry.

Performance & tech

Trak Ground Wear just dropped a new kind of compression sock developed alongside movement specialist Dr. Eric Goodman. Most compression socks just squeeze your leg like a giant tube to promote circulation, but the TRAK sock uses targeted compression zones across the calf, ankle, and arch while leaving your toes free to spread. Get them here.

On is teaming up with Erewhon for a massive shoe, apparel, and smoothie collection dropping today, May 28. The capsule features two custom Cloudsurfer sneakers alongside a series of community wellness club activations popping up across LA. Check the drop.

Acid Running officially expanded into womenswear after building a cult following around its minimalist men’s gear. Now it’s bringing that same aesthetic to a full women’s line including running bras, full-length leggings, and reworked versions of their signature 2-in-1 shorts, all arriving in a neutral color palette. Shop the drop.

Fitasy just launched the Stride 2.0 Custom-Fit, a sneaker that replaces standard sizing entirely. Instead, they use AI to map your exact foot shape and then 3D-print a shoe made just for you. The result is a super lightweight, single-material shoe with a breathable lattice sole that provides intelligent shock absorption exactly where your foot needs it. Find your fit.

Wellness & self-care

WaterOuai! just launched a new line of canned artesian water, built around the idea that your packaging matters just as much as the water inside. With microplastics in plastic bottles becoming a massive concern, they created a new aluminum can with a solid internal barrier to block chemical transfer and keep out BPA and PFAs. Sip smarter.

SANCTUM, the mind-body wellness movement born in Amsterdam, is officially coming to the U.S. Known for its music-driven movement experiences that blend ritual, somatic movement, and high-intensity training, the brand lands in NYC this June with a series of invite-only pop-ups and a major collaboration class with Othership. Join the movement.

Löy just brought authentic Finnish sauna aromas to the U.S. In Finland, adding scent to sauna water is central to the ritual, but most Americans just use regular essential oils, which burn poorly on a hot stove. Löy’s water-soluble drops mix perfectly into the water bucket to create smooth, aromatic steam instead of a harsh burn. Learn more. 

On Our Radar 

What's moving in wellness this week → 

Superyacht wellness. Ahead of opening its new Paris flagship, Alo launched ALO Voyage, an invite-only wellness club hosted on a 72-meter superyacht cruising the French Riviera. Guests trade the usual party-boat itinerary for deck-side Pilates, lymphatic drainage, IV drips, and EMS training. The whole experience is hyper-focused on fitness and recovery, making it quite possibly the biggest luxury travel flex we have seen yet. Next stop? Monaco, in June, for the 2026 Grand Prix.

Starbucks hits your morning fitness routine. The coffee giant just launched its first ready-to-drink coffee blended with 22 grams of protein. To hype the drop, it paired the bottle with a branded $22 weighted vest (it even has a little pocket for the drink) and a Strava challenge built around moving for 22 minutes a day. Much more than a drink launch, it’s Starbucks’ ultimate three-for-one move into its fitness era.

A STRONG move. Australian franchise STRONG Pilates is making major moves in the U.S. by opening its Lakeview Chicago studio on June 6 as part of a push toward 40 American locations by year-end. To set itself apart in the crowded Pilates space, the brand also launched "CONNECT,” a new in-studio system that integrates tablets directly into its proprietary Rowformers and Bikeformers. This replaces manual machine setups with personalized, color-coded intensity zones and real-time performance tracking.