The Sleepy Girl Mocktail: A Natural Sleep Aid or a Fad?

The Rise of Viral Trends

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Publix juice aisle was completely empty when searching for tart cherry juice

A week before I sat down to write this article, I went to the store in search of the ingredients for the Sleepy Girl Mocktail. Down the juice aisle at my local Publix, each shelf was stocked with rows of cranberry, apple, beet, tomato, various V8 and prune juice. The entire section was completely empty when I reached the organic juice shelf. The tart cherry juice was gone.

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail: What’s the Recipe?

The original creator, Gracie Norton, first posted the Sleepy Girl Mocktail recipe last March of this year. The trend seems to pick up again around Dry January, with TikTok creators sharing their favorite mocktail recipes.

Start with a glass – this could be a cocktail glass, a wine glass or an ordinary glass – and fill it with about half a cup of tart cherry juice.
Mix in about a teaspoon to a tablespoon of magnesium powder and top it off with ice and sparkling water or a soda of your choice.
Examples of prebiotic soda include Olipop and Poppi, which contain less sugar and have some gut-friendly benefits.

How Does Tart Cherry Juice Help You Sleep?

Tart cherries seem to contain more melatonin than other types of cherries, and may even improve sleep quality and insomnia. According to a 2018 study, the juice contains tryptophan that increases sleep time and sleep efficiency in insomnia patients.

“ Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps the body make melatonin. In layman’s terms, tart cherry juice contains naturally occurring amino acids that help tell the body when it is time to go to sleep.”

How Does Magnesium Help You Sleep?

Magnesium is an essential mineral that the body uses to support the immune system, produce energy, maintain healthy bones and muscles, and even keep the heartbeat regular. It may also aid in calming the nervous system and reduce cortisol levels in the body.

Types of magnesium:
Magnesium glycinate is best for sleeping.
Avoid magnesium oxide, as it is used mainly to relieve constipation.

My Experience with the Sleepy Girl Mocktail

I checked nearly every day for tart cherry juice to come back in stock, but it never did. I eventually bought a bottle on Amazon instead, which allowed me to try the Sleepy Girl Mocktail for myself.

I made my first mocktail about an hour and a half before bed, using a wine glass and ingredients. I poured about half a cup of organic tart cherry juice into my glass and filled it up with ice. I topped it off with an orange-flavored Poppi.

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The mocktail tasted like a fruit punch. Despite its name, the cherry juice is sweet. I was expecting it to taste similar to bitter, like pure cranberry juice – which I often drink (mixed with water) for its health benefits.

Does the Sleepy Girl Mocktail Work?

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail really did help me fall asleep. Its two main ingredients – tart cherry juice and magnesium – have been scientifically proven to induce sleepiness. Tart cherry juice increases melatonin production, and magnesium decreases cortisol, promotes relaxation and sleep, and regulates GABA production in the brain.

You don’t necessarily need to mix the two to feel the effects. You can take one without the other and vice versa. Together, the ingredients are a safe, effective, and natural sleep aid.

If you don’t want to spike your blood sugar before bed, herbal teas, especially those containing chamomile or valerian root, are a good alternative. Herbal tea is another natural sleep aid, and chamomile and valerian root have been proven to promote relaxation and sleep.

Overall, the Sleepy Girl Mocktail is a simple drink that anyone can enjoy. If you don’t want to take a melatonin supplement at night, this easy and natural sleep aid could suit you.