I have a friend who’s been suffering from insomnia for several weeks now. After the holidays were over and the fun had ended, she found that the unhealthy habits she’d taken on over the break were having long-lasting effects. It doesn’t help that there’s a light illness running through her household, and it’s even included her husband, which has caused increased snoring. I, personally, would have kicked him to the couch already, but she’s nicer than I am.
For many, a lack of sleep not only causes us to feel tired but also causes brain fog, memory issues, physical exhaustion, and, for some, extreme grumpiness (it’s me, I’m ‘some’). For my friend, it’s gone so far as to cause embarrassment and almost an accident. She was so tired the other day she drove off with the gas pump still in her car and had to do the walk (er, or drive) of shame back to the gas station to apologize. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the attendant was very kind.
I had a bit of a laugh at my friend’s expense (she joined in), but then I got a bit more solemn. Her lack of sleep had moved past the point of safety, and she needed to take the situation more seriously. I asked what she’d done to resolve her insomnia, and it wasn’t much. So I hopped on the old interwebs and looked around a bit to see if there were any recommendations that weren’t too overwhelming. I came upon a trending sleep aid, and it sounded like not only a way to get a better night’s rest but a bit of fun as well.
TikTok’s Sleepy Girl Mocktail
I know, it’s a dumb name, and do I really want to get health information from TikTok? Not really, but I didn’t find it there. You see, the original recipe was posted by creator Gracie Norton, and her TikTok showing her making it has since received more than a million views. However, I found the mocktail recipe had spread to a number of trusted sources, so I checked out why this trending drink was supposed to induce sleep.
It comes down to the ingredient list, and it actually seemed pretty simple. You combine tart cherry juice, magnesium, sparkling water, and ice, and voila! You let their natural abilities lull you to a better night’s rest. According to the sleep foundation, tart cherry juice contains melatonin, a natural sleep hormone. While some people like to take a melatonin supplement before sleep, this is a natural (and tasty) way to add some to your nightly routine. The Sleep Foundation also shows research on the sleep-inducing benefits of magnesium, which researchers hypothesize may relax the central nervous system and help you feel sleepier.
Why a mocktail, you ask? Well, you can add a bit of alcohol to this if you’d like, but research has shown that while it may help you fall asleep faster, it can negatively affect your sleep cycle.
Sleepy Girl Recipe
- ½ cup pure tart cherry juice
- 1 tablespoon of magnesium powder
- Lemon lime-flavored soda or sparkling water
- Ice
- Fill a with ice.
- Next, pour in the ½ cup of cherry juice.
- Add 1 tablespoon of magnesium powder to the liquid and stir well.
- Top it off with your favorite lemon-lime-flavored beverage.
Does It Work?
I’m planning to try this drink after I compile all of the ingredients and will strongly encourage my friend to try this (or another comparable sleep aid). The results I’ve found online indicate mixed reviews. While it seems to help some people fall asleep faster, there have been notes of vivid or strange dreams. Still, it seems like a rather harmless exercise in the quest for a better night’s rest.
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