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Best Supplements to Reduce Cortisol

Which supplements can help you reduce cortisol by alleviating stress and anxiety? We found and ranked the best of the bunch.

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Last updated: Aug 17th, 2025
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Best Cortisol Supplements

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A lot of people all around the world are living under a great deal of stress. The American Psychological Association reports that 34% of adults aged 18-34 rate their stress levels between 8 and 10 on a ten-point scale, and that's probably downplaying the issue since 67% of Americans feel their problems aren't severe enough to complain about.

Stress is nothing to ignore, though. High stress can raise your body's cortisol levels and put you at risk for a litany of health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, headaches, and even heart disease. But with stress being a part of our daily lives, how can we mitigate its negative effects?

Supplements that reduce cortisol may be part of the solution for some. They strive to nip stress close to the bud by putting you in a more relaxed state that prevents the overproduction of cortisol. There's no shortage of such supplements, so browsing the options could become a stressor in itself. Luckily, we've written this guide to narrow down the best cortisol-reducing supplements on the market.

Check out our summary of recommendations for a quick look at our picks. Then, when time permits, feel free to read further to see how we came to our conclusions.

Summary of recommendations

Best Overall

With six different ingredients that have been shown in human studies to reduce cortisol at this dosage, Sleep Support is a nightly choice that rises to the top.

Though sleep is profoundly linked with healthy stress management and regulation of cortisol levels, Sleep Support earns this top recommendation by virtue of its ingredients that directly reduce stress and lower cortisol. These ingredients are all present at clinically relevant doses. For most healthy adults, Sleep Support is likely to reduce cortisol and promote calm, not to mention improve sleep. Shipping is always free, and subscribing lets you save as much as 40%. However, the company only ships within the United States.

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Why you should trust us

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.

Finding the market's best cortisol-reducing supplements involved many dozens of research hours, during which we closely read a diverse range of relevant studies, reviews, and other pertinent materials. In the end, we studied more than 100 high-quality sources that informed our evaluative criteria. Then, taking what we'd learned, we were able to identify the products that were most likely to achieve the desired outcome. Those were the products we purchased and tried, and our hands-on testing gave us valuable insights into the customer experience — insights that we share here with you.

Our initial foray into cortisol-reducing supplements also gave us insight into what was lacking in the space. When products were well-dosed, their formulations were often light, such that we saw potential for improvement. So Innerbody Labs saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the market by creating its own supplement — Sleep Support — that features 14 high-quality and clinically-dosed ingredients. Based on the available research, we’re confident Sleep Support is the most effective over-the-counter product for alleviating stress and reducing cortisol. But we also recognize that it isn’t ideal for everyone. In some cases, when an alternative option is preferable, we're quick to point you toward a competitor.

Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

We'll continue following the cortisol-reducing supplements space in the years to come, noting new products and changes to existing ones and updating our guide accordingly so that our recommendations stay up-to-date.

How we evaluated the best cortisol-reducing supplements

Our rankings of the best cortisol-reducing supplements hinged on factors that ordinarily influence readers' purchasing decisions — effectiveness, safety, cost, and convenience — but we deviated from what we'd consider an ordinary approach in a couple of areas. Read on to see what we mean and how our top recommendations performed in each category.

Effectiveness

Winner: Innerbody Labs Sleep Support

Usually, we judge a product's efficacy based on its ability to meet a common objective (i.e., how well do all of these products achieve a specific goal?), but our top cortisol-reducing supplements defied such neat distinctions. One might succeed more narrowly at promoting rest, another at boosting cognitive function, and so on. Determining the most objective ranking, then, required us to center our evaluations on this question: Which one could satisfy the needs of most people looking to reduce their cortisol?

The answer was Innerbody Labs Sleep Support because its conscientious formulation comprises clinically relevant doses of the best-studied ingredients for alleviating stress, improving mood, and reducing cortisol directly: ashwagandha, L-theanine, lemon balm, magnesium, saffron, and Lactium. In addition, it has a slew of other ingredients that facilitate a restful state ideal for uninterrupted sleep, but without sedation or next-day grogginess, including Apocynum venetum, lycopene, and vitamin D3.

So that we could properly highlight products formulated for different purposes, we qualified several recommendations based on the smaller audiences they target. People with tighter budgets ought to appreciate Live Conscious’ lower price tag, and those who want cognitive benefits might be interested in Codeage's mushroom and blueberry blends;

Those are all capsules, though. People who’d rather not deal with capsules would probably prefer a chewable like Goli’s Ashwagandha Gummies or a mixable supplement like Recess Mood Powder. The former delivers the same clinically relevant 600mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha as ZenWell when taken at manufacturer-recommended doses, while the latter option is probably the most unusual on our list because it’s absent ashwagandha but rich in magnesium.

Goli and Recess are recommendable for other reasons, too. For example, Goli’s vitamin D content may help further reduce stress by alleviating depression symptoms, and Recess’ passionflower and electrolytes can promote relaxation and stave off dehydration, a stress risk factor.

Safety

Winner: Live Conscious ZenWell

Safety was another category that required a different angle than usual. Our ordinary approach involves identifying the brands whose manufacturing practices produce consistent and accurately labeled potencies, but each brand in this guide does a good job of that. All of them test their supplements through third parties, and most of them are GMP-compliant and ensure that their products are free of common allergens. Hence another question: Which one presents the lowest risk for adverse effects for the broadest population of users?

The answer was Live Conscious ZenWell. We considered that a majority of our recommendations have ashwagandha, so we came to our conclusion after a process of exclusion, which went like this:

  • Codeage contains mushrooms and blueberries, which present real allergy risks that can be life-threatening.
  • Innerbody’s saffron is another ingredient that can cause severe allergic reactions in some users, and it also contains soy and dairy.
  • Goli is effectively a candy. Its sugar and sodium content is significant enough to push some users over the edge of recommended daily allowances.
  • Recess’ 210mg of elemental magnesium is relatively high at 60% of 350mg tolerable upper intake level for supplements. If you take other types of supplemental magnesium, there’s a chance you’ll overconsume.

In the end, ZenWell was left standing. Its 600mg of ashwagandha is within a safe range for most people, and its L-theanine has a relatively small side effect profile.

However, please do consider that ashwagandha isn’t suitable for anyone who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Cost

Winner: Live Conscious ZenWell

Live Conscious ZenWell ($25 base as a one-bottle one-time purchase) isn’t the least expensive option on our list, but it offers the best balance between an effective formulation and a low barrier to entry. Compared to Goli’s ashwagandha-only gummies, which are around $10 less per bottle, Live Conscious provides twice as much ashwagandha (of the same potency) along with a clinically relevant dose of another stress-relieving ingredient. Theoretically, you could take just a half-serving of Live Conscious per day and get a more calming effect than a full serving of Goli, and the bottle would last you twice as long at less than twice the price. And if you purchase in bulk, the per-bottle cost drops to as low as $18 for one-timers and $14.40 for subscriptions.

Our other recommendations occupy higher price tiers. Recess ranges up to $38.99 (with some very high per-serving costs); Codeage costs $37.99 as a one-time purchase and $32.29 as a subscription; and Innerbody Labs is $65 as a one-timer, $48.75-48.50 per bottle as a subscription.

Convenience

Winner: Goli Ashwagandha Gummies

Our convenience criterion centered on ease of use. We wanted to recommend a product that presented the least difficulty in administration and, if possible, was actually enjoyable to take. Goli Ashwagandha Gummies was the clear winner because:

  • It's a soft gummy; most users ought to have little to no trouble chewing it.
  • It's tasty — similar to a Fruit Roll-Up, according to one tester's partner.

Goli's palatability comes with a trade-off — the sugar and sodium content we mentioned earlier — but there's no denying that, for most people, a chewable supplement is easier to take than a capsule.

We could say Recess is a contender for convenience since the powder is easy to consume and the travel sticks provide great portability, but powders, in general, also require multiple components — a vessel and a method of agitation — that oral supplements don’t.

We can rank our capsules in ease of use, too. Live Conscious is probably the easiest to swallow since its length and circumference are both the smallest of the bunch (around three-quarters and one-quarter of an inch, respectively), Innerbody is a little over three-quarters of an inch with a slightly broader circumference than Live Conscious, and Codeage is both visibly longer and wider than the others.

How our top cortisol-reducing supplements compare

Here's a quick chart comparing our top cortisol-reducing supplements side-by-side. We’ve included factors that are likely to influence your purchasing decision. Please note that prices and delivery intervals are for single units only; bundle discounts, where applicable, aren't reflected.

Innerbody
Live Conscious
Codeage
Goli
Recess
One-time $
$65
$18 - $25
$37.99
$14.98
$14.99 - $38.99
Subscription $ (per bottle)
$48.75 - $58.50
$14.40 - $20
$32.29
$13.48
$16.14 - $33.14
Serving size
3 capsules
2 capsules
2 capsules
2 - 4 gummies
4 - 5.7g
Servings per container
30
30
30
15 - 30
6 - 28
Active ingredients per serving
Ashwagandha, L-theanine, Lactium, lemon balm, Apocynum venetum, saffron, lycopene, astaxanthin, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin D(3), vitamin K2, zinc, copper
Ashwagandha, L-theanine
Ashwagandha, GABA, CognatiQ, Mind Enhancing Blend, Blueberry Blend, DHH-B
Ashwagandha, vitamin D2
Magnesium, L-theanine, passionflower, vitamin B6, sodium, potassium
Delivery interval(s)
1, 3, 6 mos. (tied to subscription)
1, 3, 6 mos. (tied to subscription)
1 - 3 mos.
Customizable after checkout
2, 4, 8 weeks
Bulk purchase savings?
Free continental U.S. shipping?
Subscriptions only
Orders of $50+
Money-back guarantee
30 days
365 days
30 days
30 days
14 days

What is cortisol?

Cortisol is an essential glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, the two small, triangular endocrine organs above the kidneys. Because nearly all of the body's tissues have glucocorticoid receptors, cortisol affects just about every bodily system. More specifically, it plays a critical part in the body's ability to:

  • Metabolize the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates that one ingests
  • Suppress inflammation
  • Regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, and the stress response
  • Moderate the sleep-wake cycle

The body regulates its cortisol production via the hypothalamus, located in the center of the brain. When cortisol levels dip, the hypothalamus unleashes corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to stimulate the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pituitary gland, which in turn tells the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. In inverse circumstances, the hypothalamus reduces the CRH and ACTH hormonal output to decrease the overall cortisol levels.

As the National Center for Biotechnology Information explains, the system works in a "diurnal circadian pattern," meaning a 24-hour cycle most active in the daytime. Normally, the body hits its highest cortisol levels at around 8 a.m. and the lowest levels between midnight and 4 a.m. Each of the system's components must be working properly to maintain normal cortisol production, but as you'll learn, several factors can disrupt it.

What raises cortisol levels?

Both internal and external forces can cause spikes in your cortisol levels. Below, we discuss the most common factors behind such spikes.

Corticosteroid medications

Corticosteroids are a type of synthetic anti-inflammatory widely used to treat diseases in which a person's immune system attacks the body's own tissues (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis and lupus). They raise cortisol because they structurally and pharmacologically resemble cortisol — which, remember, helps suppress inflammation. If you regularly take cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, or a similar drug, you may be at higher risk for hypercortisolism (high cortisol levels). The risk applies to topical corticosteroid use, too.

ACTH-producing tumors

Recall that ACTH secretion by the pituitary gland leads to cortisol production by the adrenals. Certain tumors produce ACTH as well; they typically form in the pituitary or adrenal glands but may also appear in the lungs, pancreas, thyroid, or thymus.

Stress

The hypothalamus, which regulates cortisol production, plays a key role in the stress response. When you encounter a stressor, your hypothalamus directs your adrenal glands to surge the body with hormones, one of which is cortisol. The sudden increase in cortisol causes an attendant spike in glucose and impairment of bodily functions that aren't essential for your surviving the stressor. Your cortisol levels usually normalize once the stressor passes, but chronic stress can switch your stress response to a perpetually "on" position. Your cortisol levels consequently remain high.

The findings of a 2018 study on the subject help quantify the extent to which stress elevates cortisol. The researchers measured the cortisol levels of 107 medical students in a "relaxed period" (40 days before a test) and a "stressful period" (test day), and they found that mean cortisol was around nine times higher during the latter than the former. Given the link between stress and glucose, you may be wondering whether high stress increases one’s risk of diabetes. According to a 2022 review, the answer appears to be yes. The researchers concluded that high blood glucose resulting from stress causes “tissue-level insulin resistance,” which leads to type 2 diabetes in “patients with chronic stress states.”

Lifestyle

Lifestyle factors can elevate cortisol because they're closely linked to stress. A 2001 review in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine identified five specific factors: smoking, alcohol consumption, a lack of exercise, insufficient sleep, and poor nutrition. With regard to nutrition, the researchers noted that high cortisol levels are related to extreme weight fluctuations, possibly owing to associated metabolic changes and "endocrine abnormalities."

A separate paper from 2017 examined the mechanisms that take place when weight fluctuates toward the overweight end of the spectrum. Notably, the paper’s author observed that obesity is part of a "continuous loop" with high cortisol and an unhealthy lifestyle, in which each component of the loop exacerbates the others.

What happens when your cortisol levels are too high?

Having chronically high cortisol levels can lead to a hormonal disorder called Cushing’s syndrome, also known as Cushing’s disease and hypercortisolism. The signs and symptoms may vary from person to person, but they commonly comprise:

  • Increased torso and abdominal fat, though with slim extremities
  • “Buffalo hump” (fat buildup on the neck and shoulders)
  • A rounded face, often with redness and puffiness
  • Easily bruised skin
  • Purple stretch marks
  • Musculoskeletal weakness
  • Decreased libido
  • Mood changes
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood sugar
  • In women: excessive hair growth on the face and body, as well as irregular/halted menstrual cycles

If you believe you're experiencing Cushing’s syndrome, you may want to see your primary care provider to order a diagnostic workup. A urine test, CT scan, MRI, and other lab tests can determine whether your symptoms stem from high cortisol or another cause altogether.

How do cortisol-reducing supplements work?

Supplements can reduce cortisol levels primarily by helping you manage your stress and anxiety. In the following sections, we discuss some of the most common active ingredients in cortisol-reducing supplements (including our top recommendations) and the research concerning their effects.

Ashwagandha

Except in Recess Mood, all of our top recommended cortisol-reducing supplements contain ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), an evergreen shrub whose medicinal use dates back as far as 6000 BCE. In traditional Indian medicine, it falls under the category of Rasayana, which relates to the connection between physical and mental health. Its effects stem from naturally occurring chemical compounds called withanolides — the more withanolides, the more potent the effects.

The types of ashwagandha used in supplements are typically branded extracts with standardized withanolide concentrations. Shoden ashwagandha is the most potent, having a 35% concentration; Sensoril is second-strongest at 10%; and KSM-66 comes in at a 5% concentration. KSM-66 features in Live Conscious and Goli; Codeage’s ashwagandha is unbranded but contains 10% withanolides; and only Innerbody Labs uses the high-potency Shoden.

Ashwagandha can help manage cortisol primarily because it has anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties, which numerous studies have examined. In 2019, for example, researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled experiment on 60 participants over 60 days; half of them received a daily placebo and the other half received a 240mg dose of Shoden ashwagandha extract. At the study's end, the researchers found statistically significant reductions in anxiety across multiple metrics in the treatment group — morning cortisol levels, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale.

Another 2019 study corroborated the above findings. It, too, was a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled experiment, except it took place over eight weeks and involved two KSM-66 ashwagandha doses (250 and 600mg per day) in addition to placebo. Both doses resulted in a "significant reduction" in self-perceived stress and serum cortisol compared to the placebo group.

Apart from reducing anxiety, ashwagandha may also mitigate the cortisol spikes associated with poor sleep. To illustrate, in a 2020 study that provided subjects with 120mg of Shoden ashwagandha per day, 72% of the participants self-reported improvements in sleep quality, while activity-monitoring data demonstrated "significant improvement" in sleep efficiency, sleep time, the time taken to fall asleep, and wakefulness after sleep onset.

Want to learn more about ashwagandha? Check out our guide to the best ashwagandha supplements.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine, an amino acid most commonly found in tea leaves, is another compound that can help reduce cortisol through anxiolytic and sleep effects. Three of our top recommended supplements — Live Conscious, Recess, and Innerbody Labs — provide L-theanine in clinically relevant doses.

A 2021 trial happened to use the same brand and quantity of L-theanine (AlphaWave, 200mg) as found in Live Conscious. In it, researchers administered either L-theanine or a placebo before and after a mental arithmetic test, which functioned as an acute stressor. They found the L-theanine group exhibited "significant positive effects" in their brainwave patterns, salivary cortisol levels, and self-reported anxiety.

Another branded version called Suntheanine, the type used in Ritual, was the subject of a 2011 study on sleep quality in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition known to increase a person's time to sleep, odds of sleep disruption, and risk of sleep deprivation. The participants, after receiving a total of 400mg of Suntheanine per day, demonstrated "significantly higher sleep percentage and sleep efficiency scores" compared to placebo. Though the 400mg daily dose was on the high end, and twice the amount found in Ritual, an earlier review from 1999 determined that doses ranging from 50 to 200mg could be effective in inducing a relaxed state.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential mineral that's crucial for numerous bodily processes, but one in which many people are deficient.

It also has a well-documented relationship with stress. In Magnesium in the Central Nervous System, the authors note that high stress and low magnesium are cyclically linked, each increasing the likelihood of the other. Other studies have further examined the connection between magnesium, stress, and cortisol directly — for example:

2020 review in Nutrients

The review's authors found numerous preclinical and clinical studies indicating that (a) magnesium can inhibit the stress response and (b) low magnesium is associated with individuals "suffering from psychological stress or associated symptoms," thus supporting the cyclical nature of increased stress and magnesium deficiency.

2021 post hoc analysis

Published in Clinical Endocrinology, the post hoc analysis in question refers to a 24-week randomized clinical trial in which 49 "overweight men and women" (45-70 years old) received either 350mg of magnesium or placebo and had their urinary cortisol levels measured both before and after the trial period. After 24 weeks, the magnesium group exhibited a mean cortisol decrease of 32nmol, leading the researchers to conclude that magnesium supplementation could be a "potential mechanism" by which to lower one's risk of cardiovascular disease stemming from high cortisol.

Magnesium comes in numerous forms, each bound to a different compound that informs its stability, absorptivity, and health effects. For example, magnesium threonate is bound to threonic acid and has excellent absorption/retention potential; magnesium glycinate goes with glycine and may improve sleep; and magnesium citrate teams with citric acid, which makes it highly water-soluble (i.e., more bioavailable).

Recess Mood Powder and Innerbody Labs are the only ones among our top cortisol-reducing supplements that contain magnesium. Both provide clinically relevant doses. We cover their formulations in their respective sections later in this guide.

Adaptogens

The term adaptogen refers to botanicals that help the body adapt to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Ashwagandha, considered both an anxiolytic and an adaptogen, is probably the best-known example, though several others are supported by research to alleviate symptoms associated with stress, including high cortisol. Let's look at a few such ingredients featured in our top recommended supplements and the effects they may have.

Rhodiola rosea

Like ashwagandha, rhodiola has a long history of medicinal use. While the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine notes that much of the research into its effects is preliminary, we do have some promising studies to support its adaptogenic function. For example, a 2008 pilot study, which administered 340mg of rhodiola extract to participants with generalized anxiety disorder over ten weeks, showed "significant decreases" in mean scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Score. A later study from 2015 saw "significant improvements in total mood" and a "significant reduction in self-reported anxiety, stress, anger, confusion, and depression" with a 400mg dose.

Codeage Meditate Vitamins+ is the only one of our recommended cortisol-reducing supplements to include rhodiola in its formulation, though it's obscured behind a proprietary "Deep Blue Mind Enhancing Blend." The blend totals 500mg, so the quantity of rhodiola is unlikely to align with clinically relevant doses, but the botanical may still play a valuable supporting role alongside the other ingredients to help reduce stress and overall cortisol.

Mushrooms

Not all mushrooms are adaptogens, but the ones that are (called functional mushrooms) can provide health benefits such as improved memory, focus, and mood. Codeage again stands apart from our other recommendations by having such mushrooms in its "Deep Blue Mind Enhancing Blend”: Cordyceps, reishi, and lion's mane, all of which have the potential to help with depression and anxiety.

Saffron

While it's better known as the world's most expensive spice, saffron has been shown to possess antidepressant effects similar to prescription medications but with fewer side effects, per the authors behind one 2018 review. In addition, some research shows that it can improve sleep quality and duration. Innerbody Labs Sleep Support is our only top recommendation to contain saffron, and its 30mg dose is within the range used in most reviewed studies. In fact, its 30mg dose is the exact amount used in a 2006 study that saw improvements in measures of mild-to-moderate depression.

Saffron also features in one of our honorable mentions: Ritual Stress Relief. Here, it’s a 28mg dose, which too has improved sleep measures in clinical research.

Various other ingredients fulfill stress- and anxiety-reducing roles in the top cortisol-reducing supplements, too. We discuss them under the relevant brand sections later in the guide.

Who might want to take a supplement to reduce cortisol?

A cortisol-reducing supplement could be the ticket for you if you experience higher-than-normal stress or anxiety even after making lifestyle modifications and taking measures to improve your sleep and diet. The products we discuss in this guide may be able to put you in a more relaxed state so that your brain doesn't process common stimuli as threats that stimulate your adrenal glands.

Who should consider other options?

If you're experiencing hypercortisolism because of corticosteroids or a tumor, then a supplement isn't likely to be much use. You should instead consult a physician to address the cause, which may entail titrating down your corticosteroid medication or undergoing surgery to remove the ACTH-producing growth.

Other populations may want or even need to avoid cortisol-reducing supplements because of health implications. With our top recommendations, the potential for adverse effects relates largely to ashwagandha, which presents risks to people who:

  • Are pregnant
  • Are sensitive or allergic to nightshades
  • Are about to undergo surgery
  • Take certain medications
  • Have hyperthyroidism, an autoimmune disorder, or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

GABA, used in Codeage, is another concerning ingredient if you regularly consume alcohol or take certain medications (e.g., for anxiety, seizures, or blood pressure). Such substances act on the body’s GABA receptors, so combining them with a GABA-based supplement could lead to an unpleasant degree of sedation. Regular drinkers and anxiolytic patients should consult with a medical professional before adding GABA to their regimen.

Additional ingredients featured in our recommendations may be hazardous for certain users as well. We cover the more common safety issues in the next section, "Are cortisol-reducing supplements safe?" For product-specific concerns, refer to the relevant brand section found in the latter half of this guide.

Are cortisol-reducing supplements safe?

For most healthy adults, yes, cortisol-reducing supplements should be safe, but that's a general conclusion that doesn't account for individual circumstances or sensitivities. As we said, certain populations are at higher risk of adverse effects from the ashwagandha and other ingredients that may appear in a supplement's specific formulation. Even among low-risk populations, a particular ingredient may cause unpleasant reactions.

In the sections below, we discuss some of the common ingredients in cortisol-reducing supplements, the populations who may want to avoid them, and the possible side effects that may arise even among greenlit users. Keep in mind that specific brands may include other ingredients to which certain users may be sensitive (e.g., Recess’ and Innerbody’s magnesium).

Ashwagandha: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and various interactions

Pregnant women should avoid anything that contains ashwagandha because it can potentially cause a miscarriage. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid it, too, because there isn't enough evidence to assure the child's safety.

Ashwagandha may also interact with the following health conditions and medications:

Autoimmune conditions and medications

People with multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or a similar autoimmune condition should avoid ashwagandha because it can overstimulate the immune system and, therefore, exacerbate symptoms.

For the same reason, people who take immunosuppressant medications should avoid ashwagandha as well.

Hypotension and antihypertensives

Ashwagandha can lower blood pressure, so it may not be suitable for people with already low blood pressure or those who take medications for high blood pressure.

Diabetes and antidiabetics

Ashwagandha can also lower blood sugar levels. If you take antidiabetics to control your blood sugar, you run the risk of your blood sugar falling too much. You don't have to avoid ashwagandha, but you should speak with your doctor first and closely monitor your blood sugar.

Sedative medications and supplements

Ashwagandha's relaxant properties are likely to interact with medications and other supplements with sedative effects, potentially resulting in drowsiness and slowed breathing. Avoid using it altogether or exercise increased caution if you take central nervous system depressants, benzodiazepines, melatonin, or other drugs and supplements with sedative effects.

Thyroid conditions and hormones

Ashwagandha increases your body's production of thyroid hormones, and so do thyroid hormone medications. Combining one with the other may cause hyperthyroidism, the symptoms of which include but aren't limited to a rapid heartbeat, shakiness, weight loss, increased appetite, and gastrointestinal changes.

Additionally, some otherwise healthy users may experience unpleasant side effects from taking ashwagandha, such as:

  • Sleepiness
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain

Also, though rare, drug-induced liver injury has been definitively tied to at least one case of ashwagandha supplementation and determined to be "possible" to "highly likely" in four others.

L-Theanine: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, food/drink interactions, depression

Drugs.com warns that users should take certain precautions when taking L-theanine. Most notably, those who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should discuss its suitability in their regimen with their healthcare provider, and it should not be combined with alcohol.

People with major depressive disorder (MDD) may want to exercise caution when taking L-theanine alongside other treatments. In at least one study, MDD patients who added 250mg of L-theanine per day (a little more than the amount found in Live Conscious and Innerbody Labs) to their antidepressant medication experienced a "significant decrease" in high-density lipoprotein ("good" cholesterol), an outcome associated with a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and other serious medical concerns.

GABA: Drug/drug interactions, pregnancy, breastfeeding

GABA doesn’t jibe with substances that have sedative properties, such as alcohol and medications for anxiety, seizures, and high blood pressure. What these substances have in common is that they act on GABA receptors. Taken together with a GABA-based supplement, like Codeage, it can exacerbate GABA’s calming effect. For example, with blood pressure meds, which lower blood pressure, combination with GABA can cause your blood pressure to drop too low. In fact, the United States Pharmacopeia warns that “concurrent use of GABA with anti-hypertensive medications could increase risk of hypotension.”

Also, pregnant and breastfeeding women should exercise caution with GABA supplements given the inconclusiveness of its safety for both them and the developing fetus/child.

Innerbody Labs Sleep Support

Best cortisol-reducing supplement for most people

A bottle of Innerbody Labs' Sleep Support with capsules on a wood countertop

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • Thoughtful formulation that includes 11 of the best-studied ingredients for reducing stress or anxiety, reducing cortisol directly, or improving sleep health
  • Doesn’t cause sedation
  • Third-party tested and cGMP-certified
  • Free shipping on all U.S. orders
  • Bulk purchasing options for up to 25% off per bottle
  • 30-day satisfaction guarantee
  • Free of melatonin and gluten
  • Vegetarian-friendly and non-GMO

Cons

  • More expensive than our other recommendations
  • Largest serving size on our list — three capsules
  • Contains ingredients derived from milk and soy
  • No shipping outside the U.S. at this time

Despite its name, Innerbody Labs Sleep Support isn’t strictly a sleep aid, nor is it designed to induce drowsiness like melatonin or an antihistamine. Rather, it's formulated in such a way as to put your body in a calmer state, which is ideal for falling asleep at night but also for reducing your cortisol levels at any time of day. Its ingredients were deliberately chosen and dosed to provide that flexibility along with the highest possible efficacy.

The ingredient bill includes 11 of the best-studied ingredients for reducing stress or anxiety, reducing cortisol directly, or improving sleep health:

Shoden ashwagandha 100mg

In a 2019 study, subjects who received 250mg or 600mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha experienced significant reductions in serum cortisol. Innerbody Labs uses 100mg of Shoden-branded ashwagandha, which has seven times the withanolide concentration as KSM-66, so a 100mg dose should provide more impact than the 600mg used in the study.

L-Theanine 200mg

In 2021, a triple-blind crossover study found that a 200mg dose of L-theanine — the same dose used in Sleep Support — yielded neurochemical changes “indicative of relaxation in the brain and [suggestive of] a calming response.” A separate study from 2024 found that L-theanine taken alongside Lactium (another ingredient in the Innerbody formulation) could improve sleep efficiency, with decreases in sleep onset latency and wakefulness after sleep.

Lactium 300mg

Even independently of L-theanine, Lactium boasts properties that recommend it as an excellent cortisol-reducing ingredient. For example, a 2022 trial of Lactium saw significant decreases in serum cortisol levels in subjects who took 200mg or 300mg doses, and a 2019 study yielded “significantly increased [sleep efficiency]” with four weeks’ administration of 150mg or 300mg doses.

Lemon balm (Relissa) 400mg

With 400mg daily doses of Relissa, a branded form of lemon balm extract, subjects in a 2023 clinical trial demonstrated “significant improvements” mood, anxiety, stress, emotions, overall well-being, and quality of life.

Magnesium 127mg (elemental)

A 2020 study found that around 56mg of elemental magnesium per day — less than half the amount in Innerbody Labs — could reduce urinary cortisol excretion. Other researchers have found supplemental magnesium to correlate with improved sleep quality as well as reductions in symptoms and sleep disturbances associated with restless leg syndrome.

Saffron 30mg

In a 2021 clinical trial of saffron’s effects on adults with poor sleep, 14mg and 28mg doses were found to increase evening melatonin (a hormone critical to healthy sleep cycles) without increasing cortisol. Similarly, a 2018 clinical trial found that a 30mg dose — the same as in Innerbody Labs — led to significant relief in sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

Apocynum venetum 50mg

Apocynum venetum is a botanical with beneficial actions on mental health and sleep quality. Japanese studies using 50mg of a branded form called Venetron — the same dose and brand used in Innerbody Labs — have shown that it can help users reduce psychological stress as well as initiate and maintain sleep at night.

Astaxanthin 12mg

Astaxanthin belongs to a category of antioxidant pigments called carotenoids, which are important for achieving optimal sleep duration. The 12mg dose of astaxanthin in Sleep Support is precisely the quantity used in a 2020 study that saw sleep improvements in people with depression.

Lycopene 5mg

Even in cases of primary insomnia, the carotenoid lycopene has demonstrated the ability to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Zinc 17mg

Your body needs zinc to regulate sleep patterns. Without sufficient zinc, you run the risk of poor sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency (the time it takes to fall asleep). Indeed, clinical research has shown that zinc, along with astaxanthin, can improve these very parameters.

The 17mg of zinc in Sleep Support is a little more than the recommended daily allowance (8-11mg for adults), but it’s also well below the 40mg tolerable upper intake level, so there’s little risk of oversupplementation. (Of note, Sleep Support also contains 0.21mg of copper, as zinc supplementation can deplete copper levels. It’s a nice safeguard.)

Vitamin D3

Because vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased risk of unhealthy sleep, it stands to reason that supplementation significantly improves sleep quality.

Although Innerbody Labs’ 38mcg dose is higher than the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D3, it’s also well below the 100mcg tolerable upper intake level.

An important distinction between Sleep Support and other sleep aids is that none of Sleep Support’s ingredients have sedative properties. What they do, instead, is put your body into an optimally relaxed state conducive to sleep. Therefore, it avoids the next-day drowsiness you might experience with common sleep ingredients like melatonin and valerian root.

Innerbody Labs Sleep Support pricing, subscription, shipping, and returns

Innerbody Labs offers Sleep Support in multiple purchase options, including bulk subscriptions:

Price per bottleTotal up-front costCost per serving
One-time$65$65$2.17
Subscription, 1 month (save 10%)$58.50$58.50$1.95
Subscription, 3 months (save 20%)$52$156$1.73
Subscription, 6 months (save 25%)$48.75$292.50$1.63

The price tag is a considerable downside to this otherwise commendable supplement, though it’s significantly less expensive than other OTC sleep aids with similar formulas and marketing. At its one-time base price, it’s roughly twice as expensive as our second-most-costly top recommendation (Codeage).

An upside is that you can try Sleep Support risk-free, as it has the same 30-day satisfaction guarantee as Codeage and Goli.

Another upside is that all U.S. orders, whether one-time or subscription, ship for free.

Live Conscious ZenWell

Best budget option, safest cortisol-reducing supplement

Live Conscious ZenWell Main

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • Ashwagandha and L-theanine at clinically significant but safe doses
  • Black pepper extract for increased absorption
  • Best dose-to-price ratio on our list
  • Highest one-bottle subscription discount on our list (20%)
  • Multiple bulk purchase options available for further savings
  • Free shipping with a subscription
  • 365-day money-back guarantee (longest return window on our list)
  • International shipping available through partner iHerb
  • Smallest (and easiest-to-swallow) capsule on our list
  • Non-GMO, vegetarian, and free from gluten, soy, peanuts, and shellfish

Cons

  • Pre-selected delivery intervals contingent on order quantity
  • Not suitable for people with dairy sensitivities or allergies (contains milk)

We consider Live Conscious ZenWell to have one of the most straightforward formulations among our top recommendations. That's because its formula is limited to KSM-66 ashwagandha and AlphaWave L-theanine; a third ingredient, black pepper fruit extract, is there to enhance the bioavailability of the others.

The doses are clinically relevant, too. The 600mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha aligns with the amount used in a 2019 study on the ingredient’s anxiolytic and adaptogenic effects, the 200mg of AlphaWave L-theanine is the precise quantity used in a 2021 trial on stress alleviation, and the 20mg of black pepper is roughly consistent with the ideal "bioenhancing dose" suggested in one 2012 review.

Live Conscious ZenWell Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

Also, ZenWell is the smallest and easiest-to-swallow capsule on our list. To varying degrees, our other recommendations are longer and wider than ZenWell's 0.75 in. length and 0.25 in. circumference.

Live Conscious ZenWell pricing, subscription, shipping, and returns

A single bottle of Live Conscious ZenWell costs $25 as a one-time purchase; with 30 servings per bottle, every two capsules cost you $0.83. Subscribing, though, gets you a 20% discount on the base price — the highest one-bottle subscription discount among our top recommendations — bringing the per-bottle cost down to $20 and the per-serving cost to $0.67.

Additionally, like Innerbody Labs and Goli, Live Conscious offers bulk discounts. With a three- or six-bottle order, you stand to gain an additional 12-28% discount on one-time purchases and 30-42% on subscriptions. The pricing breaks down as follows:

Three bottlesSix bottles
One-time total $$66$108
One-time $ per bottle$22$18
One-time $ per serving$0.73$0.60
Subscription total $$52.80$86.40
Subscription $ per bottle$17.60$14.40
Subscription $ per serving$0.59$0.48

Although these price points are higher than Goli’s, Live Conscious is our choice for best budget pick because it has a superior dose-to-price ratio. Per dose, it gives you twice as much ashwagandha, along with a clinical dose of L-theanine, at less than twice the cost. If you wanted, you could take just a half-serving of Live Conscious per day to achieve a more calming effect than you could with Goli.

The downside: Should you subscribe, the number of bottles in your order dictates your delivery interval. Subscribe for one bottle, and you get it every month; three bottles, three months; six bottles, six months. The only flexibility you have in the matter is the ability to reschedule deliveries as needed. We wish the delivery system were more like Codeage's, which lets you choose between one-to-three-month intervals; limited though it may be, it at least lets you choose an interval that’s more likely to meet your needs. This is why we recommend most people order ZenWell from either iHerb or Amazon at this time.

Subscribers get free shipping within the United States, whereas one-time purchasers have two shipping options:

  • Standard (4-5 business days): $5.95
  • Expedited (2-3 business days): $14.95

(International shipping is available through the company’s partner, iHerb.)

If you want to return your ZenWell, you have a huge, 365-day window to send your order back for a refund, store credit, or an exchange. In comparison, Innerbody Labs, Codeage, and Goli all have fairly standard 30-day return windows, while Recess offers only a 14-day guarantee.

Codeage Meditate Vitamins+

Best mushroom blend

Codeage Meditate Main

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • A high dose of functional mushrooms to improve mood and focus
  • Clinically relevant doses of both ashwagandha and GABA
  • Includes blueberries to improve cognition
  • Contains a powerful anxiolytic in DHH-B
  • Widest range of delivery intervals on our list (1-3 months)
  • Allows returns of opened products
  • Vegan, non-GMO, and free of soy, dairy, and gluten
  • Third-party international shipping available

Cons

  • Mushroom and blueberry quantities hidden behind proprietary blends and may be subclinically dosed
  • Second-most expensive option on our list
  • Largest capsule size on our list
  • Only a 30-day return window

As we discussed in an earlier section — "How do cortisol-reducing supplements work?" — certain mushrooms have adaptogenic properties. Codeage Meditate Vitamins+ is one product (and our recommendation for the best mushroom blend) that leverages the power of functional mushrooms alongside other ingredients to improve not only mood but also cognitive function.

The Vitamins+ formulation includes 250mg of ashwagandha (presumably Sensoril, as it's standardized to 10% withanolides) and 300mg of GABA — both of which are within clinical ranges. — along with 500mg of a "Deep Blue Mind Enhancing Blend” that comprises Rhodiola rosea and the fruiting-body extracts of three mushroom varieties:

  • Cordyceps: Cordyceps mushrooms are abundant in the nucleoside adenosine, which can have positive effects on depression and anxiety.
  • Reishi: A 2012 pilot clinical trial on breast cancer survivors found that reishi powder could improve anxiety and depression symptoms as well.
  • Lion's mane: A four-week trial in 2010 found the possibility of similar outcomes with lion's mane mushrooms.

Down the ingredient list, you'll find a secondary proprietary blend: 100mg of a "Wild-Crafted Blueberry Blend." Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which one review in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity notes can be "beneficial to cognitive performance and mood."

The last item listed on the label is dihydrohonokiol-B (DHH-B), a supplement with anxiolytic effects. Mice studies have found DHH-B to be effective at doses ranging from 0.4 to 1mg/kg, which is equivalent to around 2.6 to 32mg for an 80kg (176lb) human; Codeage's 7.5mg falls within that range.

Codeage Meditate Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

There are issues with some of the ingredients, though. First, the proprietary blends obscure individual amounts, and the overall quantities aren't likely to provide enough of an individual ingredient for maximal impact. If you look at that reishi trial, for instance, you see that subjects were consuming 3,000mg per day, while Codeage's "Deep Blue Mind Enhancing Blend" maxes out at 500mg for all three mushroom varieties. The same issue exists with the blueberries, as the review we cited notes quantities well above the 100mg found in Meditate Vitamins+.

Second is the addition of CognatiQ, a coffeeberry extract that's supposed to improve cognition and mood but whose claims to which are dubious. A 2023 placebo-controlled crossover study found that 100 and 300mg doses of coffeeberry extract impart no cognitive or behavioral benefits and that higher doses may be needed to be effective. Codeage's CognatiQ dose comes in at 200mg, so it certainly isn't higher than the amounts referenced in the study.

In all fairness, Codeage Meditate Vitamins+ isn’t a mushroom or blueberry supplement; it’s a complex aimed at promoting relaxation. With that in mind, we can consider such ingredients to be support players that help enhance the effects of the ashwagandha, GABA, and DHH-B. All of those ingredients do call for a larger capsule, though, and the Codeage capsules are the largest of all our top recommendations.

Codeage Meditate Vitamins+ pricing, subscription, shipping, and returns

Codeage Meditate Vitamins+ costs $37.99 as a one-time purchase and $32.29 as a subscription — $1.26 and $1.08 per serving, respectively. It's overall the second-most expensive option among our top recommendations, after Innerbody Labs, and shipping adds around $7 to the bill unless you increase your order volume to cross the $50 free-shipping threshold.

On the plus side, Codeage allows a wider range of delivery intervals than Live Conscious or Goli, as you can choose to have your supplement shipped every one, two, or three months.

On the subject of returns, Codeage's offers a guarantee with the same 30-day window as Innerbody Labs and Goli. The caveat is that Codeage's guarantee applies to just one refund per customer; if you've returned a Codeage product in the past, future returns are off the table.

Goli Ashwagandha Gummies

Best gummy

Goli Ashwagandha Main

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • Clinically relevant dose of KSM-66 ashwagandha
  • Includes a high dose of vitamin D2
  • Lowest base price on our list
  • Bundling options available for further savings
  • Free worldwide shipping
  • Allows returns of opened products
  • Easier to consume than capsules and quite tasty
  • Vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO

Cons

  • May lose potency over time
  • Significant sodium quantity
  • Not suitable for low-carb diets
  • Only a 30-day return window

Goli's Ashwagandha Gummies have just two active ingredients in 300mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha (a clinically relevant dose) and 25mcg of vitamin D2. The latter could be important since there's an inverse correlation between vitamin D and depression, and the Goli dose is within the tolerable upper intake level.

Goli is our choice for the easiest-to-use cortisol-reducing supplement because it's a gummy. You chew two for a complete serving and don't have to fret about swallowing capsules. It's also quite tasty. In the words of one tester's partner, "It tastes like a Fruit Roll-Up” (this same tester admitted to taking a serving of Goli as a snack one afternoon). Of course, its tastiness comes with 4g of total sugars and 6g of carbohydrates, so it isn't suitable for people on low-carb diets, and it contains 20mg of sodium, which the average American already overconsumes. On top of that, gummy-based supplements can lose potency over time, so you may be getting less than the stated quantities of ashwagandha the longer you stretch your supply.

To end our evaluation on a positive note, we want to mention that, unlike a lot of gummies, Goli Ashwagandha is made with pectin instead of gelatin, making it suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Goli Ashwagandha Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

Goli Ashwagandha Gummies pricing, subscription, shipping, and returns

For a one-time purchase, a single bottle of Goli Ashwagandha Gummies will set you back just $14.98 ($0.50 per serving). For a subscription, it's $13.48 ($0.45 per serving). To top things off, shipping is free worldwide. These are all improvements from just a year ago, when Goli’s gummies were around $5 more per bottle and shipping cost around $5.

Like Innerbody Labs and Live Conscious, Goli offers additional savings if you buy in bulk. Your choices are three- and five-pack bundles. Here's how the pricing breaks down:

Three bottlesFive bottles
One-time total $$42.96$69.95
One-time $ per bottle$14.32$13.99
One-time $ per serving$0.48$0.47
Subscription total $$38.67$63.00
Subscription $ per bottle$12.89$12.60
Subscription $ per serving$0.43$0.42

For returns, you again have the same 30-day satisfaction guarantee as Innerbody Labs and Codeage, at least when you purchase directly through the Goli website. Purchased elsewhere, it may be subject to the third party’s return policy.

Recess Mood Powder

Best powdered drink supplement for reducing cortisol

Recess Mood (unflavored) mixed into a glass of water

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • A hefty dose of stress-relieving magnesium in a proprietary blend
  • Clinically relevant dose of L-theanine
  • Passionflower content capable of relieving anxiety and insomnia
  • Contains electrolytes to stave off dehydration, a stress factor
  • Low-enough zinc quantity so as not to interfere with magnesium absorption
  • Relatively low sodium content
  • Available in multiple flavors
  • Available in both bulk tubs and travel sticks
  • Sugar-free and low-calorie
  • Free shipping on all orders to the continental United States
  • Sold at some brick-and-mortar stores, including national chains like Sprouts and Target

Cons

  • The second-highest per-serving costs on our list
  • Only a 14-day return window for refunds (narrowest return window on our list)
  • Monk fruit sweetener may not be for everyone

Recess distinguishes itself from our other recommendations in a couple of ways. First, it's a drink powder, which some people may find more convenient, or at least more versatile, than even a gummy. Not only that, but it’s also a low-calorie, sugar-free powder available in multiple flavors (Unflavored, Lemon Citrus, Berry Gradient), two package varieties (bulk tub and travel sticks), and even sampler packs.

Second, rather than ashwagandha, its formulation centers on magnesium, whose stress- and cortisol-reducing properties we discussed in an earlier section ("How do cortisol-reducing supplements work?"). There, we also mentioned that magnesium comes in multiple forms, each with its own health effects and degree of bioavailability.

The Recess Proprietary Magnesium Blend contains several forms, plus a non-magnesium ingredient to increase the overall bioavailability:

Magnesium L-threonate

Magnesium L-threonate is bound to threonic acid. Recess Mood specifically uses a branded version called Magtein, which appears to demonstrate "higher absorption and higher retention" than other magnesium sources, as noted by the authors of a 2022 study.

Magnesium glycinate

Here, the magnesium is bound to glycine, an amino acid that has shown the ability to improve sleep, which has an impact on stress and cortisol, as we've discussed.

Magnesium citrate

Bound to citric acid, magnesium citrate is one of the mineral's most common forms. In a 1990 study, it demonstrated "high solubility in water," thus supporting its superior bioavailability to forms such as magnesium oxide.

Vitamin B6

In a 2018 study pitting a combined magnesium–B6 intervention against magnesium alone, the researchers found that the combination therapy yielded 24% greater improvement in severe/extremely severe stress compared to the magnesium-only group.

The entire Magnesium Blend totals 1,561mg, of which 210mg is elemental. It's a good and hefty dose that’s within a clinical range. It is, however, close enough to the 350mg tolerable upper intake level that you’ll want to practice caution if you already take a magnesium supplement. Also, you should probably avoid Recess Mood if you're sensitive to magnesium or take medications that can interact with it — bisphosphonates, antibiotics, diuretics, and proton pump inhibitors.

Recess Mood formulation also includes several other promising ingredients for reducing stress and cortisol, either directly or indirectly:

  • L-Theanine: We've discussed L-theanine's properties throughout this guide, and Recess' 200mg dose is clinically relevant.
  • Passionflower extract: Passionflower may promote a relaxed state by increasing your levels of GABA. The 180mg Recess dose is only about one-third the amount recommended in clinical studies but is close to the 192mg dose used to some sedative effect in at least one study.
  • Electrolytes: Potassium, sodium, calcium, and (even more) magnesium help stave off dehydration, which is important given the connection between cortisol and water loss.

Recess Mood Powder pricing, subscription, shipping, and returns

The price you pay for Recess Mood Powder depends on the options you choose. Here’s a helpful table to break it down, with the per-serving costs rounded up to the nearest cent:

ServingsOne-time purchase $Subscription $$ Per-serving
Unflavored tub28$34.49$29.32$1.05 - $1.23
Lemon Citrus or Berry Gradient tub28$38.99$33.14$1.18 - $1.39
Unflavored travel sticks10$18.99$16.14$1.61 - $1.90
Lemon Citrus or Berry Gradient travel sticks10$21.99$18.69$1.87 - $2.20
15-count sampler15$29.99$27.99$1.87 - $2
6-count sampler6$14.99NA$2.50

You can see that the up-front costs aren't that bad. Apart from the flavored tubs as a one-time purchase, they're all less expensive than Codeage. It's the serving costs that get you, though, because Recess powder has the second-highest costs per serving in this guide. Only Innerbody Labs Sleep Support is more expensive per serving.

If you subscribe, your delivery intervals are two, four, or eight weeks. The four-week option lines up neatly with the tubs, but none of the travel sticks have serving sizes that correspond to the available intervals.

Your order should arrive in 2-7 days — quite a broad range, but also not too bad.

If you don't like your product, you have only 14 days to request a refund. The window may be larger for exchanges, but Recess doesn't specify how much larger; you'll have to reach out to customer service to determine whether you qualify.

Ritual Stress Relief

Ritual Stress Relief Main

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • Clinically relevant doses of L-theanine and saffron for sleep improvement
  • Free shipping
  • One-capsule serving size (smaller than our top recommendations)
  • One-time purchases now available
  • HSA/FSA eligible
  • Free of gluten and major allergens
  • Suitable for vegans

Cons

  • Has a citrus essence that some people may not like
  • On the costlier side

Ritual was previously our recommendation for sleep support but has since been supplanted by Innerbody Labs. Still, it remains an honorable mention as a cortisol-reducing supplement. Its 80mg ashwagandha content may be lower than that of our top recommendations, and on the low side of the clinical range, but the L-theanine and saffron doses are clinically relevant.

We mentioned earlier that 50-200mg of L-theanine can induce a relaxed state. The higher end of the range is ideal for promoting restful sleep, and that’s how much you get with Ritual Stress Relief.

As for the saffron, most studies have used doses ranging from 0.6 to 28mg per day, with considerable success associated with the latter. Again, Ritual delivers the higher end of the range (28mg) per serving, though it’s less than what Innerbody Labs provides.

Ritual Stress Relief Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

Speaking of servings, Ritual requires just one capsule — a smaller serving size than any of our top recommendations. Also, unlike with Sleep Support, Ritual recommends taking Stress Relief in the morning, as the company’s proprietary sustained-release system allows for gradual distribution throughout the day.

Pricing, subscription, shipping, and returns

Ritual now offers three purchase options:

  • Buy once: $60
  • Monthly subscription: $54 ($43.20 for your first order)
  • Three-month delivery subscription: $153, or $51 per bottle ($122.40, or $40.80 per bottle, for your first order)

Even at its most cost-effective price point, which requires a high up-front commitment, a single bottle of Ritual is more expensive than Goli, Live Conscious, Codeage, and Recess, and roughly about the same as Innerbody Labs (which delivers a more robust formulation).

Ritual subscriptions ship for free, but one-time purchases incur a $6.95 shipping charge. Deliveries are every 30 days or three months, depending on which subscription option you choose. You can adjust your delivery date in your account settings. The company ships to the U.K. and Canada, too.

Like Innerbody Labs, Codeage, and Goli, Ritual accepts returns within just a 30-day window. There are some customer-friendly caveats, too. You get a full refund on any first order you don't like, whether you're a new subscriber or an existing subscriber trying a new product, and under "certain circumstances," Ritual will refund your order after the 30-day window has closed (the company has to evaluate your case to determine whether you qualify).

Youtheory Ashwagandha + GABA

Youtheory Main

Photo by Innerbody Research

Pros

  • 1,000mg of ashwagandha, including a clinically relevant 600mg of KSM-66
  • 100mg of GABA, within safe clinical range
  • 20mg of ginger extract for enhanced bioavailability
  • Subscriptions now available — 15% base price plus free shipping
  • Free shipping on orders above $40
  • Suitable for vegetarians

Cons

  • High shipping cost for one-time purchases
  • No international shipping
  • Opened products not eligible for refunds or returns

Youtheory Ashwagandha + GABA is another honorable mention. Delivering 1,000mg of ashwagandha in two forms — 600mg of KSM-66 extract and 400mg of powder (branding unspecified) — it’s a product that may work best for people with higher ashwagandha tolerances. According to the Mayo Clinic, the high-dose combination should be safe to take for three months, if not longer.

In addition to ashwagandha, Youtheory provides 100mg of GABA, whose calming effect can help control the "nerve cell hyperactivity associated with anxiety, stress, and fear" per the Cleveland Clinic.

The GABA used in Youtheory is a branded version called PharmaGABA, which has been the subject of several clinical studies. In 2017, for example, a case study published in Advances in Mind-Body Medicine described how 200-400mg of PharmaGABA helped calm anxiety in a woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features. The GABA quantity in Youtheory is only 100mg, but that's more than the amount used in a successful 2019 trial with GABA-fortified oolong tea, and it’s well within the 50-3,000mg range recommended by the Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate.

The Youtheory formulation has a bioenhancer, too, like Live Conscious, except it's 20mg of ginger instead of black pepper. A clinical dose of ginger would be 10-30mg/kg, and Youtheory's dose falls short, but the specific brand (called Gingever) is supposed to be higher in potency. If that's the case, then 20mg may be enough to boost the supplement's intended effects.

Youtheory Ingredients

Photo by Innerbody Research

As to the user experience, you should know the Youtheory capsule is wider than ZenWell but slimmer than Codeage or Innerbody Labs, putting it in a middle tier of swallowability that it shares with Ritual.

Youtheory Ashwagandha + GABA pricing details

Bought directly from Youtheory, a 30-serving bottle of Ashwagandha + GABA costs $24.99 as a one-time purchase, equivalent to $0.83 per serving. The $24.99 sticker price would be a feather in Youtheory's cap, as only Goli is less expensive, but it's practically canceled out by a $14.99 shipping cost. Altogether, then, it costs almost as much as Codeage, our second-most expensive recommendation.

But at least now subscriptions are available — a development in the past year — at a cost of $21.24, or around $0.71 per serving. That’s a 15% discount, which isn’t bad at all. And it comes with free shipping. Currently, the only delivery intervals are 30 days and 60 days. The 60-day option makes sense only if you plan to take the supplement every two days or subscribe to two bottles at a time.

Insider Tip: Youtheory orders above $40 ship for free. So if you want to save money without committing to a subscription, the most cost-effective approach is to buy at least two bottles in one go.

The return policy isn't all that great, either, since you have just 30 days to send back an unopened product for a refund. At least the policy length is on par with Innerbody Labs, Codeage, and Goli, and it's better than Amazon, which normally doesn't accept any returns of supplements.

Cortisol-reducing supplements FAQ

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Sources

Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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