Ready for a good night's sleep? Look no further
The Sleepy Girl Mocktail is the newest and trendiest addition to 2024. Made with tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, some sort of sparkling drink, and ice, this drink is the perfect way to ensure one gets an uninterrupted 8+ hours of sleep. Who deserves the credit for this drowsy drink? Enter Gracie Norton. A girl posted a TikTok about how she struggles with sleep right at the end of her luteal phase in her menstrual cycle (look at her TikTok and see who she is). So, how does this even work? The recipe is simple: fill a glass of your choice (the more aesthetic the better) with ice, next pour in ½ cup of tart cherry juice, add 1 tablespoon of magnesium powder, and stir. Top off the drink with your favorite fruity sparkling beverage. Let’s dive into each ingredient of this specialty drink and see what kinds of benefits we’re consuming before hitting the sheets.
Tart cherry juice. Once an item that grocery store shoppers overlooked, it is now flying off the shelves and being scoured by those who want to hit that 8+ hour mark. So, what does this juice do that helps people sleep so well? Tart cherry juice contains a natural sleep hormone called melatonin, which is produced naturally in our bodies, and it induces the want to sleep. The brain produces this hormone in response to darkness, aiding with the body's circadian rhythms and sleep timing. Those constantly exposed to light at night through cell phone usage, lamps, or reading lights are blocking their melatonin production. Cherries contain the highest quantity of melatonin, specifically tart cherries such as Montmorency. Sweet cherries do contain trace amounts, but one would need to eat about one hundred sweet cherries to gain enough melatonin to affect the sleep cycle; whereas one would only need to eat twenty-five tart cherries. Eating up to a hundred cherries could be time-consuming and unattainable for most, which is where tart cherry juice comes in. The juice is a more concentrated aspect of the actual cherry, which is why ½ a cup is the perfect amount needed for this drink. Tart cherry juice contains an amino acid called Tryptophan, which aids in melatonin production. In other words, this acid tells the body when it’s time to go to bed.
Magnesium is an essential mineral that the body uses to support the immune system, create energy, keep healthy bone structure and muscles, and maintain a regular heartbeat. It can also help calm the nervous system and reduce cortisol levels in the body. Certain variations of magnesium have also been proven to help with muscle relaxation. Those who have trouble loosening their muscles or are prone to muscle soreness or spasms would benefit from taking magnesium supplements. Many variations of magnesium supplements line the shelves at grocery and drug stores, but which one should be purchased for this snoozing beverage? Magnesium glycinate has been proven to be best for sleeping, as it supports relaxation, and bodies can easily absorb it.
The third ingredient for this drink is any sort of citrusy sparkling drink. Most influencers have decided to use drinks such as Poppi or Olipop which are prebiotic sodas considered to be healthier than an actual soda. Although the Poppi and Olipop have prebiotic factors, you do not necessarily need to use them. Other individuals have added La Croix or Waterloo to their mocktails, saying it tasted the same; it just depends on flavor preference. The carbonation does create a sort of “pleasant fizz” that makes the drink even more fun and enjoyable.
As the proper amount of sleep needed becomes more challenging to obtain, individuals are scrambling to find solutions. This fizzy, sleep-inducing drink showcases the increasingly popular awareness of self-care and wellness within our current generation. These drinks offer a tasty alternative that provides a refreshing option to unwind and relax before hitting the pillow. With self-care and wellness trends increasing daily, this can be seen as a cue that health care can be both enjoyable and accessible to everyone.
Written by Alexa Davis, Photography: Kaleigh Mazy, Social Media: Eliana Ho