Cortisol supplements: what UK rules actually allow anyone to claim
Do cortisol supplements work?
Be careful here: in the UK, no food supplement is allowed to claim that it lowers cortisol or balances your hormones. Cortisol is a hormone, and products claiming to reduce or balance it are overstepping UK rules. What supplements can honestly claim are the approved claims of their ingredients: Magnesium and Vitamin B6 contribute to normal psychological and nervous system function, and both contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. That is the honest version of the 'cortisol balance' promise.
The cortisol trend vs UK rules
| What the internet says | What UK rules allow |
|---|---|
| 'Lowers cortisol' | Not an authorised claim for any food supplement |
| 'Balances hormones' | Not an authorised claim for any food supplement |
| 'Supports a stressed nervous system' | The approved version: magnesium contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system |
| 'Fights fatigue' | Approved: magnesium, B5 and B6 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue |
Ingredients in the stress aisle and their UK status
| Ingredient | UK status |
|---|---|
| Magnesium | Approved claims for psychological and nervous system function, muscle function, tiredness |
| Vitamin B6 | Approved claims for psychological function and tiredness |
| Ashwagandha | No authorised claim; traditional Ayurvedic use |
| L-Theanine | No authorised claim; from green tea |
| Maitake and other mushrooms | No authorised claim; centuries of traditional use |
The trade-offs
A compliant stress formula (Grass & Co. RELAX)
- Magnesium and B6 with approved claims
- Maitake, Ashwagandha and L-Theanine alongside them
- No cortisol promises, because UK rules do not allow them
- No hormone claims — because nobody can legally make them
- Not for the bedtime hour; it is a daytime formula
'Cortisol balancing' products
- Trendy marketing and dramatic before-and-after stories
- Claims UK rules do not allow
- You are buying hype, not a regulated promise
If a product promises to lower your cortisol, walk away — that claim is not allowed in the UK, from anyone. Look instead for magnesium and B6 formulas with approved claims for psychological function and tiredness, and treat the rest as tradition, not promise.
If you want a dramatic promise, we cannot make one: no UK-compliant brand can. Our RELAX is also not a bedtime product — it is built for the daytime version of stress.
Mentioned in this piece
Questions people ask
- Can supplements lower cortisol?
- No supplement in the UK is allowed to claim it lowers cortisol. Approved claims exist for nutrients like magnesium and B6, which contribute to normal psychological function and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Is 'cortisol face' real?
- It is a social media trend, not a medical diagnosis. If you have ongoing symptoms that concern you, speak to your GP rather than buying a supplement.
- What should I look for in a stress supplement?
- Approved UK claims (magnesium and B6 are the honest workhorses), named ingredients and doses, and published batch testing.
More comparisons
- The can aisleFunctional drinks compared: Grass & Co., TRIP, Neutonic and Water Junkie
- The label questionFruiting body vs mycelium
- The format questionCapsules vs powder vs drinks
Grass & Co. products are food supplements and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Do not exceed the stated dose. Most products are for adults; CBD is for adults only.