If you struggle to get good sleep, you may be willing to try just about anything to change that and social media is full of suggestions. One of the latest from TikTok is a bedtime drink called the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail,” which some users claim is a magic potion to help them snooze. It’s made with magnesium, prebiotic soda and the star ingredient - tart cherry juice - which is said to have a positive impact on sleep.
The “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” trend really caught on after wellness influencer Gracie Norton said it gave her the best sleep of her life, but can we really believe the hype? According to Azizi Seixas, a sleep expert at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, there’s evidence that tart cherry juice can improve sleep, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all fix. Tart cherry juice contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can trigger the production of melatonin that induces sleep, so anyone who isn’t able to produce enough melatonin could benefit from this drink.
But that’s not the only way the juice can positively affect sleep, Seixas points out it has other health benefits including promoting weight loss, helping with exercise recovery, and reducing stress, all of which can also help improve sleep. Tart cherry juice is also high in sugar and can be very acidic, so the sleep expert advises drinking it at least two hours before bedtime.“It might be helpful,” Seixas concludes, “But it should not be seen as a primary, long-term solution.”
Source: CNBC
Scott's Thoughts:
- The fact that it might actually work makes it better than a lot of trends on TikTok!
- For me, if I have alcohol and fall asleep, I wake up a few hours later and can't go back to sleep.
- I think I could be ok with only 6 hours sleep. The problem is I am sleepy by 10pm and don't want to get up at 4am. I did it for 20 years doing morning radio. I want to sleep in now!