Some people on social media claim that adding salt to coffee can help reduce jitters.
We asked Samantha M. Coogan, MS, RDN, director of the didactic program in dietetics and senior lecturer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to see if this hack actually works.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Q: Some influencers are claiming that adding salt to coffee can help reduce jitters. Is there any truth to it?
Coogan: There is simply no truth to this claim.
The “jitters” brought on by coffee are due to caffeine stimulation of the central nervous system. Caffeine releases adrenaline while blocking adenosine receptors at a higher rate. This may help you feel more alert, but it can also make you feel more anxious, restless, or distressed.
These side effects are often heightened in those who are caffeine-sensitive or who consume large amounts of caffeine.
Salt would do nothing to change these actions from occurring. Much like alcohol and the inability to avoid a hangover by external intervention, the only ways to combat side effects are simply time and to have less of it, or decaffeinated varieties.
Like many online trends, the idea likely came from a wellness influencer or self-proclaimed “guru” who made unsubstantiated claims.
If anything, adding salt might help combat coffee’s bitter flavor, providing a smoother taste. But we must remember that excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. Even small amounts added daily could lead to higher overall intake.
How Can I Really Reduce Caffeine Jitters?
Some people drink coffee to replace meals, which will also contribute to that shaky, anxious sensation often caused by a drop in blood sugar. So don’t forget to have food with or around your coffee intake.
It’s important not to confuse a stimulant with something that provides energy. Only calories provide actual energy and fuel. Stimulants do not. That’s why “energy shots” with only five calories are misleading. It’s really just a stimulant shot.
Overall, if you enjoy one to two cups of coffee a day, especially as part of a morning ritual, don’t overthink it. And certainly don’t alter it just for the sake of doing so. You’ll wind up just wasting money, and it could lead you to no longer enjoying it.
There are so many great, natural benefits to coffee on its own, such as antioxidants, that there’s really no need to try to add things to it to improve it.
That’s the beauty of a varied diet, where you get your nutrients from lots of different sources. Either deal with the side effects, drink less of it, or opt for decaffeinated versions, and make sure you don’t use coffee as a meal replacement.
Verywell Health 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.
Liu C, Wang L, Zhang C, et al. Caffeine intake and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Front Psychol. 2024;15:1270246. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1270246
Kobylińska Z, Biesiadecki M, Kuna E, Galiniak S, Mołoń M. Coffee as a source of antioxidants and an elixir of youth. Antioxidants. 2025;14(3):285. doi:10.3390/antiox14030285
Miller is a journalist specializing in mental health, women’s health, and culture. Her work is published in outlets ranging from Vice to Healthnews.
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