I'm just a girl who can't sleep at night. A looming deadline takes over my mind, a reminder that I didn't reply to that friend's email from a month ago, my usual late-night shenanigans, and a host of other things that cause me to wake up at 8 a.m. every night. It is regularly prevented from getting 9 hours of sleep from time to time. So when I saw the girls on the Tok River advertising a cure that they thought would help them count sheep, I thought to myself: I was intrigued.
By now, you've probably seen the sleepy girl mocktail on your FYP. Tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, and your favorite seltzer water (or prebiotic soda) are mixed together in the chicest glass in your cabinet. And wellness influencers say it helps them get some quality shut-eye.
NGL, I'm all for little wellness fads, but as a health editor, it's literally my job to side-eye these things. My biggest question: Are we giving them a placebo? For example, girls are finally just starting to create cute nighttime winddown routines, and are they improving their sleep quality? Is it because they finally stopped their late night Instagram scroll before rolling over in bed? If you're here, you're probably wondering the same burning questions. So scroll down to hear from two sleep experts about whether the viral sleepy girl mocktail actually works.
By the way, does magnesium have an effect on sleep?
Well, the science behind taking magnesium for sleep is not conclusive, so it's hard to say, says Michelle, MD, director of behavioral sleep medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center. Drerp explained. “Some studies have shown an association with improved sleep, while others have not identified an association,” she explained. “If magnesium helps improve sleep quality, it may be because it acts on specific receptors that quiet brain cell activity,” she says.
So how can cherry juice help you sleep?
“Tart cherries are naturally rich in anti-inflammatory properties and melatonin,” explains Dr. Wissam Mansour, director of Duke Health's sleep medicine program. Cherries are also rich in an amino acid called tryptophan, which is used to produce serotonin, a mood-boosting chemical known to help regulate mood and sleep, Dr. Mansour explained.
All of these combined may improve your sleep quality, but it may not be enough to see a significant effect. “The melatonin and tryptophan content in tart cherries is low compared to the effective amounts recommended for promoting sleep,” he said.
Gotcha. So, is the Sleepy Girl Mocktail really effective?
In short, it's possible! but! It's not a magic solution or a one-size-fits-all solution. “This combination may help some people sleep better. But it's certainly not the long-awaited antidote to everyone's sleep problems” said Dr. Mansour. He explains that sleep regulation is complex and involves many external and internal factors. “No single intervention, supplement, or drug can provide a magic solution to everyone's sleep problems.”
How to make a sleepy girl mocktail
However, creating a relaxing pre-bedtime routine is essential to getting a better night's sleep. This may look like turning off the big lights, lighting expensive candles, ending screen time early, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol at night. So if making delicious (and generally safe) drinks in super cute glasses is part of your evening's laid-back atmosphere, I, personally, fully support it.
- 1/2 cup tart cherry juice
- 1 tablespoon magnesium powder
- Splash of seltzer water or prebiotic soda
- ice
Everything you need to make mocktails for sleepy girls
Lakewood Organic Pure Cherry Tart Juice
Magnesium Thornbis Glycinate
Estelle Color Glass Sunday Highball Glass Set
Poppi Raspberry Rose Prebiotic Soda
Also!it's important to know that Not all magnesium supplements are the same. Some forms of magnesium can cause stomach problems and diarrhea. like magnesium The oxide has the effect of softening the stool and acts like a laxative (!!).magnesium Carbonates, chlorides, and gluconates are also said to affect the stomach. Magnesium glycinate (also known as magnesium bisglycinate, as mentioned above) is known to be gentle on the stomach and may aid sleep.
Of course, always check with your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially since some forms of magnesium can interfere with the action of your medications.
What are some ways to get better sleep?
If you're not interested in adopting a sleepy girl mocktail, but still want to create better sleep habits, here are some tips from experts to help you do just that.
Set a fixed wake-up time
Both Drerup and Dr. Mansour emphasize keeping a fairly tight wake-up schedule. “This can disrupt our body clock and cause circadian rhythm disruption,” explains Dr. Mansour.
Trust me, I know this can happen difficultEspecially if you have to work late to complete a big project or have a fun Friday night. But without a consistent wake-up time, Drerup says, “it's almost impossible for your body to get used to healthy sleep habits.” Try to keep the schedules the same if possible and minimize differences, even if you can sleep in sometimes, she says.
move your body
We've all heard about the benefits of regular, enjoyable physical activity. Heck, sleep is one of them. “Exercise and activity can help increase sleep pressure and can also help manage stress, both of which can lead to better sleep quality,” Drerp explains.
put boundaries on the bed
Okay—I get it. So These days, we spend a lot of time in bed, from reading and relaxing to eating and working. But all of this can cause some confusion at bedtime, Drerp explained. “There needs to be a strong mental and physical connection between bed and sleep, so try to limit your in-bed activities to just sleep and sex.”
Overall, if you're suffering from extreme sleep problems that are making you feel stressed and impacting your health, Dr. Mansour recommends talking to your doctor for advice.
Kristen A. Johnson is the lifestyle editor for: cosmopolitan There, we cover health and wellness, money, career, home, pets, food, travel and more in print and digital. A true lifestyle generalist, Kristen can be writing about the best cushions and champagne glasses one minute and editing articles about yeast infections, toxic family members, and ethical pet products the next. Spending the day. Kristen was previously on Cosmo's Culture team, where she covered celebrity and entertainment news, award shows, and interviewed popular faces like Megan The Stallion and Queen Latifah. She wrote Cosmo's first digital cover story featuring Chloe Bailey. Before she joined the magazine, Kristen spent the first four years of her career at the Tribune newspaper in Chicago, where she began working as a Lifestyle, Entertainment, Food & Dining editorial assistant on her team. I did. Her last role at the paper was as a features reporter for the lifestyle section, where she specialized in health, pets, home, design, style and relationships content. Several of her health and style articles made the front page of this traditional newspaper. When Kristen isn't rummaging through antique shops, she's probably drooling over her home's linos on her HGTV, asking friends and family how they're feeling, sharing her latest therapy revelations, or watching old photos from her college basketball days. Maybe you're redoing your workout or trying to perfect your homemade buttermilk. Biscuit recipe. Follow her on Instagram at BTS ~ editor life ~ tingz!
