What Are ‘Mood Drinks,’ and Can They Really Boost Your Emotional State?

As mood drinks become ubiquitous, questions remain about whether they do much beyond quench thirst. Learn why healthcare providers say the jury is still out.

Mood Drinks Are a Broad Category

There’s no official definition for functional beverages under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which means that many drinks can claim to fit the bill. Recess is one company offering drinks in this category, but several other brands, such as Hiyo and Clevr, are also popular.

Most mood drinks claim to support health in some way. “They’re usually flavored beverages with added ingredients marketed for benefits like relaxation, focus, or energy,” says Sandra Zhang, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian-nutritionist at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

“These drinks blend together different combinations of adaptogens, plus things like magnesium, B-vitamins, L-theanine, botanical extracts, and sometimes caffeine,” says Linda Chun, MD, an integrative medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Upper Arlington.

Common Ingredients Found in Mood Drinks

Every company and functional beverage is slightly different, but certain herbal, root, and medicinal mushroom ingredients are regularly featured.

Herbal Ingredients

• Ashwagandha This herb has been researched a lot, but studies are often small and designed with very different protocols, making it difficult to draw conclusions about ashwagandha’s effectiveness. “There is limited evidence this may help with stress and anxiety,” Zhang says.

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• Hemp Part of the cannabis family, hemp is “touted for pain control and relaxation,” says Jamie Alan, PharmD, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Research on hemp’s effects on health is ongoing.
• Holy Basil Ocimum tenuiflorum (aka holy basil) has a history in ayurvedic medicine, where it’s referred to as the “elixir of life.” It has been “traditionally used for stress,” Zhang says.

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Roots

• Ginseng Dr. Alan says that this root is used for alertness. However, she notes that it can interact with some common medications, such as the blood thinner warfarin.
• Maca Root This Peruvian plant is marketed for its energy and mood benefits, Zhang says. It also often comes with claims that it will increase sex drive and desire, Alan says.
• Rhodiola Also known as “arctic root” and “golden root,” products made with rhodiola often claim to boost mood and cognition, along with energy and stress relief. Research on the root is of “low to moderate quality,” according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

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Medicinal Mushrooms

• Reishi This medicinal fungus is “traditionally used for wellness and immune support,” Zhang says. It’s also “thought to help with relaxation,” Alan says.
• Lion’s Mane This mushroom is often touted for its cognitive properties, Zhang says. Some data suggests that lion’s mane may help cognition in middle-aged and older adults.

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What Experts Think About Mood Drinks

Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a clinical associate professor of psychology at NYU Langone Health in New York City, has several patients who use these drinks. But she says that it’s hard to know if any positive changes in mood are due to the beverages. “Their use alone doesn’t tell us whether they’re improving mood,” she says. “My concern is that the marketing is moving much faster than the research.”

Many of the claims surrounding these beverages are linked to their ingredients, most of which lack robust data, including clinical trial evidence. “These really are glorified sodas,” Alan says. “Maybe they taste great, but there isn’t much data on many of these additives.”

While Dr. Chun says that some of these drinks may help you to feel calm, she notes that “it’s often unknown how much of the adaptogens one can contains.” The adaptogens are usually listed as a proprietary blend, without specific amounts of each ingredient shown, which can be a safety concern or a reason to question the drink’s quality, Chun says.

“From an efficacy standpoint, proprietary blends often don’t contain enough of the ingredients that are known to be necessary to achieve therapeutic benefit,” she continues.

Healthcare providers also have concerns about potential drug interactions. “Taking an adaptogen like ashwagandha may not be appropriate for people on certain medications, like antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or thyroid hormone,” Chun says. And again, ginseng can interact with multiple medications.

But Chun says that these beverages may play a role in helping people to reduce their consumption of alcohol or caffeine. Dr. Gallagher agrees. “Alcohol is an established carcinogen, so helping someone drink less can be worthwhile, regardless of whether the adaptogens do anything,” she says. “But ordinary sparkling water could serve that purpose too. I’d like to see more rigorous, independent research before recommending these drinks specifically for mood.”

Who Should Try (and Who Should Avoid) Mood Drinks?

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should avoid these drinks, due to a lack of data, according to Alan.

Still, “generally they will be okay for most people,” Alan says. She just recommends being mindful of the caffeine content in your drinks.

If you’re interested in functional beverages or consume a lot of them, Chun suggests checking in with your healthcare provider, “especially if you take medications or other supplements.”

Gallagher stresses that the verdict is still out on these beverages. “I’m not saying these drinks are bad or can’t help,” she says. “We just don’t know enough yet.”

The Bottom Line

The functional beverage industry is growing quickly, but the data is not quite there to support using these drinks to boost your mood. “Be skeptical when it comes to the big health claims,” Chun says.