Now and then, social media comes up with hacks and tricks claimed to be "life-changing." Usually, there is no credible research to back up such wild claims. Worse, sometimes, these hacks end up harming people more than doing anything beneficial. A recent hack is a mocktail that claims to help you sleep better, made famous on TikTok. Called the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, it has garnered millions of views on this platform, and users claim this magic potion helps you sleep better. While the ingredients seem promising, experts are skeptical. So, what is the truth? Does the Sleepy Girl Mocktail really help you sleep better?
Did You Know?
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Learn more.
What Is The Sleepy Girl Mocktail?
The Sleepy Girl Mocktail is the newest sleep aid that is doing the rounds on TikTok.
It's a drink made from magnesium powder, tart cherry juice, and soda that users say lets them sleep better.
The recipe was first posted on TikTok by Gracie Norton in 2023.
Since then, it has gained 58 million views on that platform.
The Ingredients Explained
The two main ingredients in the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, tart cherry juice and magnesium powder, have been shown to promote sleep.
- Tart cherry juice: Both sweet and tart cherries are anti-inflammatory and contain vitamins and minerals. According to a study, older adults experiencing insomnia find it easier to fall asleep when they drink tart juice just before bed.
Tart cherry juice can help promote sleep through the following ways:- It is naturally high in melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycle.
- It contains tryptophan, an amino acid needed to produce serotonin and melatonin.
- Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, tart cherry juice helps lower stress levels and promotes relaxation.
- Magnesium: Magnesium is an essential mineral for the body. It participates in hundreds of metabolic reactions in the body. It also promotes muscle relaxation and is regularly prescribed by doctors to patients who have insomnia. However, magnesium does not directly induce sleep. It acts like a muscle relaxant that helps you get into a relaxed state that promotes sleep.
How Does The Sleepy Girl Mocktail Help You Sleep Better?
The Sleepy Girl Mocktail might be beneficial for sleep.
Both magnesium and tart cherry juice, the main ingredients of the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, have some benefits for good sleep.
However, more evidence is required to support the claim.
Another Interesting Read For You: The Top 3 Methods To Fall Asleep Faster
What Does Science Say?
The ingredients in the Sleepy Girl Mocktail may help you sleep better.
The magnesium in this mocktail might help counter deficiencies and increase the production of GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps keep anxiety and stress at bay.
The melatonin in tart cherry juice can help induce sleep.
However, experts are not sold on the idea of this mocktail being an effective sleep aid.
In fact, some amount of the placebo effect may play into this.
If you regularly make this mocktail and consume it before bedtime, your brain may be tricked into making an association between both.
So whenever you make this mocktail, your brain starts sending signals to the, you signal to your body that it's time to fall asleep.
It becomes a part of your bedtime routine that relaxes and helps you unwind.
This eventually leads to sound sleep rather than the drink itself.
The “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” Recipe
Here's the recipe for the "Sleepy Girl Mocktail.":
- ½ cup pure tart cherry juice
- One tablespoon of magnesium powder
- A splash of prebiotic soda or sparkling water
Do Doctors Recommend The Sleepy Girl Mocktail?
Despite its apparent health benefits, doctors and experts don't recommend relying solely on the Sleepy Girl Mocktail for sleep.
This is because numerous factors like diet, physical activity, stress levels, hydration, etc. can affect sleep.
While the magnesium and tart cherry juice might help some of these, not all can be solved with this mocktail.
Further, there is little only scientific evidence to back the claims being made on social media about this miracle concoction.
Pairing it with other good sleep habits, such as staying away from devices just before sleep or creating a calm environment in the bedroom, can help you sleep better.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Although the effectiveness of the Sleepy Girl Mocktail is questionable, the concoction is unlikely to cause any harm.
However, that does not mean you can consume large quantities of it without any side effects.
- It is essential to note the type of magnesium you use to make the Sleepy Girl Mocktail. Some forms of magnesium, like magnesium citrate, can cause diarrhea.
- People who struggle with blood glucose regulation need to cut down on tart cherry juice, as it can cause a sudden spike in the body's blood glucose levels.
- Drinking too much of this drink might create an urge to pee in the middle of the night, making you wake up. This is counterproductive, given that this drink is supposed to give you a good night's sleep.
- Further, readymade tart cherry juices might contain added sugars and certain preservatives that can harm your health.
Is Sleepy Girl Mocktail Safe To Use Everyday?
There are no serious health risks associated with the Sleepy Girl Mocktail.
So it can be safe to use everyday.
However, if you have a health condition that makes consuming either magnesium or tart cherry juice risky, we advise consulting your doctor first.
When Should You Drink Sleepy Girl Mocktail?
It's a good idea to drink the Sleepy Girl Mocktail 2 hours before going to bed.
Remember to pair it with a bedtime routine to increase its effectiveness.
Healthier Habits For Better Sleep
Besides the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, here are a few healthy habits to follow if you are trying to get better sleep:
- Avoid too much caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that keeps you awake for long and jeopardizes your sleep-wake cycle. Avoid drinking too many cups of tea or coffee, especially after midday. Caffeine can affect your sleep even after five hours of consumption, so any cup of tea or coffee after the afternoon can interfere with your sleep. Substituting your last cup of coffee with chamomile tea can further help promote better sleep.
- Avoid devices, especially one to two hours before sleep. The blue light emitted by your mobile phone or laptop strains your eyes and interferes with melatonin secretion, the hormone that regulates your body's sleep-wake cycle. Reduced melatonin secretion and eye strain keep you awake longer. Healthier bedtime habits can include reading, listening to music, sleep meditation, and even a relaxing bath.
- Practice stress-relief exercises like journaling or meditation. Chronic stress can make it harder to fall asleep and hamper your sleep quality. Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditative movements particularly help combat sleep issues caused by stress.
- Exercise regularly. Try to include some form of exercise in your daily routine. You can go for a walk, hike, go swimming, or practice yoga. Exercise has a host of benefits for your physical and mental health, and one of them is helping you sleep better.
- Adopt a healthier diet: The general is that a balanced diet filled with vegetables and fruits, which are great sources of vitamins and minerals can contribute to better sleep. Kiwi, tart cherries, fatty fish, walnuts, and almonds are some foods that are effective in helping you sleep.
Summary
The Sleepy Girl Mocktail is a concoction of tart cherry juice and magnesium powder that helps you sleep better.
Magnesium is a muscle relaxant and might help promote sleep.
Tart cherry juice contains small amounts of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body's sleep cycle.
However, experts have differing views that this mocktail alone might solve your sleep problems.
They recommend pairing it with other good sleep habits.
If you have a medical condition that restricts you from consuming either magnesium or tart cherry juice, make sure to consult your doctor before drinking this mocktail.
References
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sleepy-girl-mocktail
