What if there was a magic elixir you could drink every night
that not only tastes amazing but will also help you sleep like a baby? Enter
the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, the sleep potion everyone is mixing up on TikTok.
Influencer Gracie Norton, who specializes in nutrition and polycystic
ovarian syndrome awareness content on TikTok, showed how she makes this sleep-inducing
formula and it quickly became a viral sensation with many others
giving the drink a try.
In the video, Gracie mixes tart cherry juice, magnesium
powder and Olipop Lemon Lime soda. Gracie says the mixture helps her during
the luteal phase of her menstrual cycle as a lot of her content focuses on better
nutrition for menstrual phases, which helps her deal with her PCOS diagnosis.
The luteal phase of your period occurs right after
ovulation and begins on day 15 of a 28-day cycle. This is when the lining of your uterus thickens and it
ends when your period begins.
This phase can cause mood changes, tender breasts, bloating,
acne breakouts, changes in your appetite and insomnia as well as fatigue
thanks to an increase in progesterone.
Tart cherry juice has been celebrated for its natural sleep-inducing
properties. It helps the body access melatonin and helps make more with tryptophan. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and many have turned
to melatonin supplements in the form of gummies or pills for natural sleep
help. Tryptophan is an amino acid that helps regulate sleep when it converts to
serotonin. Serotonin then turns into more melatonin.
Tart cherry juice has other benefits as well as it also
helps with muscle recovery, boosts the immune system, and promotes brain health.
Magnesium is known for promoting a sense of calm within the
body, but it also helps improve sleep quality and duration, plus helps with
anxiety by relaxing the whole body.
Olipop soda is low in sugar and has prebiotics and plant fiber
to help with digestion. All these ingredients together seem to add up to a whammy of a lights-out drink.
In addition to the mocktail, Gracie also recommends blackout blinds and a sleep mask for
the perfect night of sleep.
As many imitators as there making the mocktail on TikTok, there are also alternatives. Jenna, a realistic dietitian at @happystronghealthy.rd recommends pairing the drink with cheese as a lack of nutrition throughout the
day could be a cause of sleep troubles. She also leaves out the magnesium, and
uses Watermelon Lime Olipop instead, for flavor.
Priya Patel, a dietician with Ohio Health warns that the cherry juice can have tons of sugar and carbohydrates, which can
be a lot before bed. She recommends focusing on healthy sleep habits instead of
relying on a drink.
A few of those who tried the drink did report back on how
they felt the next day and while some were big fans, some also reported some
major stomach upset. Between the cherry juice and the magnesium, both have been
known to cause bloating, cramps and possibly even diarrhea. One commenter said they
needed “a seatbelt for the toilet at 3 a.m.”
Cherry juice has sorbitol, which can cause bloating, cramps and urgency, so a whole glass is not a great idea for many people. Even just a
few ounces may be too much.
Magnesium is a well-known laxative. Stick to magnesium glycinate
otherwise, it can cause major stomach discomfort, but even that form may be upsetting. Even the probiotics in the Olipop can't calm this storm.
We think this cocktail might be a pass due to the sugar and possibility
of stomach issues, but it’s worth at least giving it a try if you are desperate
for sleep and have a generally hearty gut.
You could also try Gracie’s luteal phase gummies, which may
be a little easier on the tummy. They contain either Trader Joe’s Power of
Purple juice or just a little tart cherry juice and some gelatin as well as a dose of Elix Cycle
Balance.
And don’t forget to practice good sleep hygiene like keeping
a consistent sleep schedule, making the room dark, limiting screen time an hour
before bed and curbing caffeine and alcohol before bed. If you want to try out your own sleepy girl mocktail for guaranteed sweet dreams, check out this break for more tasty recipes!