This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Alexandrea Ciardella. Find her on Instagram at @a6ysma1. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Feeling tired lately? Looking for something to help you sleep? The “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” has taken the internet by storm, prompting influencers to make it and sharing how well it helped them sleep. This mocktail recipe looks like a great way to start your night and help you fall asleep, but why and how does it make you suddenly sleepy? What is in it that makes you so tired after drinking it? And what other foods can you try to help you fall asleep?
Starting with the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” recipe, add into a glass ½ cup of tart cherry juice. It’s important to note that sugar-free cherry juice is preferable, as the body has difficulty processing sugar right before bed. Mix in a spoonful of magnesium glycinate (please use magnesium GLYCINATE powder! Many people have mistaken magnesium glycinate with magnesium citrate—which can act as a laxative!). Finally, top off your mocktail with sparkling water or a soda like Olipop or Poppi (Olipop’s cherry vanilla is recommended). And with that, you’re about ready to fall asleep!
Now that we know what’s in the sleepy mocktail, you may be wondering how each ingredient helps you fall asleep. It turns out that cherry juice contains melatonin and tryptophan, two chemicals that aid in sleep regulation. While melatonin is a hormone that helps transition the body into sleep, tryptophan is an amino acid that makes melatonin. This is why you may feel tired after eating foods like turkey or tofu, which are high in tryptophan. Tart cherry juice also improves muscle recovery, reduces blood pressure, and improves memory. On the other hand, magnesium glycinate helps alleviate anxiety and eases the nervous system.
Even though this sleepy girl mocktail seems like a miracle drink for those with insomnia, there are some precautions to bear in mind. As mentioned above, it’s best to use sugar-free cherry juice right before bed. Drinking something sugary before bed can raise your blood pressure and have an adverse effect, making it difficult to fall asleep.
Besides this mocktail, there are other foods and drinks out there that will help you sleep. Not a fan of cherries? Bananas and kiwis are a great source of magnesium. Oatmeal has been reported to help induce drowsiness. Teas like chamomile and peppermint have calming effects, while dairy products such as milk and yogurt (even almond milk!) can help you fall asleep. Why not cut up some bananas over your oatmeal? Or make a cherry kiwi smoothie?
Have you tried the sleepy mocktail recipe? Let us know in the comments below!
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