The ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ is just making dry January all the more unbearable (2024)

It’s still dry January, and if you’re running out of ideas for alcohol-free alternatives, TikTok has some … erm, curious offerings. Introducing the “sleepy girl mocktail”, a beverage enjoying viral fame. It may sound like an old-fashioned euphemism for a valium and a Diet co*ke, but it is, in fact, a juice-based concoction that looks like red wine and is supposed to help you sleep better.

The recipe is simple: tart cherry juice, some fizz such as sparkling water and magnesium powder. It was popularised by the wellness influencer Gracie Norton, who last year hyped the drink as a cure for poor sleep brought about by her menstrual cycle. Since then, countless videos from fans have featured variations such as cranberry juice instead of cherry, lemonade instead of soda water, and – my favourite – just magnesium pills with cherry juice, in a kind of extreme deconstruction of the drink where the mixing happens in your bloodstream.

Does it actually work? The first thing to mention is that Norton is not a doctor or a dietitian. And while magnesium may help with premenstrual symptoms, that might not be the reason you’re sleeping badly in the first place. It’s always best to speak to your GP. To me, this feels like another example of the wellness influencers finding a new fad ingredient to project almost supernatural powers on to. But did they have to ruin the mocktail for me? In what way is this quasi-medicinal liquid a mocktail? Is Calpol a mocktail? Is it a mocktail just because you can drink it and it has no alcohol? Is water a mocktail?

Speaking of water, Reese Witherspoon’s dry January offering uses frozen water from the sky, AKA snow. Her “snow salt choccocinos” involve scooping some snow into a cup before adding cold brew coffee, salted caramel syrup and chocolate syrup. The recipe sparked widespread disgust as people pointed out snow may not be safe to consume, having been polluted by toxins in the air.

With recipes like these in circulation, this dry January, it might be healthier to just have a small glass of wine at dinner.

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The ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ is just making dry January all the more unbearable (2024)

FAQs

Does the Sleepy Girl mocktail really work? ›

Does the sleepy girl mocktail help you sleep? “People's responses will vary, but the research supports these ingredients for better sleep,” Samantha Cassetty, a registered dietitian based in New York City and the co-author of “Sugar Shock,” tells TODAY.com.

Does the Sleepy Girl mocktail make you poop? ›

Usually consisting of cherry juice carbonated beverage, probiotics like Olipop or Poppi, and magnesium supplements, sleepy girl mocktails are meant to produce sleep-inducing hormones. However, experts warn that the magnesium could lead to diarrhea and other stomach issues.

How long before bed to drink sleepy girl mocktail? ›

Doctors say that mixing the cherry juice with other supplements like magnesium also helps. Magnesium regulates neurotransmitters and can be relaxing, so adding a scoop to your mocktail can help quiet the mind. The Sleep Foundation says a glass one hour before bed can improve sleep quality.

Does the Sleepy Girl mocktail work without magnesium? ›

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.

What is the Tiktok drink to help you sleep? ›

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail has emerged on the platform as a natural sleep aid, with many users claiming the before-bed drink helps them sleep more soundly. The drink consists of magnesium, tart cherry juice, and usually a seltzer or soda, like OLIPOP, which contains plant fiber and prebiotics.

Does cherry juice and magnesium help you sleep? ›

Fans of the drink say the magnesium powder and tart cherry juice in the mixture help them sleep, but experts say there's no evidence these ingredients do that. Though the mocktail is not necessarily unsafe to try, experts say it's important to try proven methods for improving sleep if you're not getting enough rest.

Is the sleepy girl mocktail safe while pregnant? ›

Can you have the sleepy girl mocktail while pregnant or breastfeeding? OBs caution against it if you have gestational diabetes, but otherwise it should be safe.

What are the side effects of cherry juice magnesium? ›

"One key side effect could be some stomach upset or even diarrhea, especially from the tart cherry juice," he says. "Another side effect could be spiking your blood sugar level right before bed.

What juice is good for sleep? ›

  • Tart cherry juice contains tryptophan and melatonin, which can help regulate sleep.
  • A glass of sugar-free tart cherry juice approximately one hour before bed could improve sleep quality.
  • Tart cherry juice or supplements can also provide antioxidants and improve overall health.
Apr 16, 2024

What is the sleepy girl mocktail trend? ›

The latest health craze to hit the app involves a time honored tradition many of us — including myself — struggle with: sleep. Yes, the sleepy girl mocktail, a fruity mixture of magnesium powder, tart cherry juice, and sparkling water, has taken over TikTok, with many users singing its slumber-inducing praises.

Can you take too much tart cherry extract? ›

Minor possible side effects of tart cherry juice or supplementation include nervousness, constipation or diarrhea, trouble sleeping, weight loss, loss of appetite, or excessive hunger. More serious side effects include intense stomach pain, dizziness and constant sleepiness, and memory loss.

What not to drink before bed? ›

Five drinks to avoid before going to bed
  • Alcohol. It's no secret that alcohol makes you feel drowsy after a few drinks. ...
  • Coffee. The caffeine in coffee can help wake you up in the morning. ...
  • Energy Drinks. For obvious reasons, there is no use in having an energy drink before bed. ...
  • Soda. ...
  • Water.
Jul 30, 2019

Can the sleepy girl mocktail give you diarrhea? ›

While magnesium citrate does induce a calming effect, it's also a laxative and can irritate the stomach or cause diarrhea. If you decide to try using a supplement—or a sleepy girl mocktail—for sleep, Kilkenny recommends taking it 30 to 60 minutes before bed to allow the magnesium's effects to kick in.

Does the sleepy girl mocktail taste good? ›

First off, the drink—made with magnesium powder, pure tart cherry juice and soda water—is absolutely delicious. Fruity, bubbly and refreshing, it's everything you'd want in a mocktail. I'd honestly just drink it on its own solely for the taste.

Does magnesium glycinate knock you out? ›

“But it's not a one-stop fix for everyone, and we're still figuring out exactly how it works for different people.” How quickly magnesium glycinate helps with sleep or relaxation differs for each person, Harris says. “Some people may feel the effects on their sleep in a few days. For others, it may take a few weeks.”

Can this viral bedtime mocktail actually help you fall asleep? ›

These mocktails also contain magnesium powder, which likewise has not been conclusively proven to improve sleep.

What does a coochie co*cktail do? ›

It's called a coochie co*cktail. Cause it's gonna make you taste and smell real good down there. Ingredients you will need coconut water, cranberry juice. It has to be 100% organic.

Are adrenal co*cktails real? ›

An adrenal co*cktail typically consists of water, glucose (sugar), and sodium (salt), and this combination is well-recognized in the medical community as an "oral rehydration solution." Such solutions are used to treat dehydration caused by conditions such as diarrhea or vomiting.

What to drink to sleep faster? ›

Whether you prefer a cold drink or a warm bedtime drink, here's our list of the best drinks before bed to help you drift off.
  • Water. ...
  • Tea to help sleeping. ...
  • Tart cherry juice. ...
  • Banana smoothie. ...
  • Warm milk. ...
  • Almond milk. ...
  • Ovaltine. ...
  • Hot Chocolate.

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