Wellness trends come and go. Some stick around and become habitual in our routines, whilst others quickly vanish into the TikTok micro-trend multiverse.
If you’re anything like us, it can be quite difficult to make sense of all the noise in the space. And just when you thought you’ve found a new fave wellness habit, experts are quick to dispute its benefits. The latest culprit? TikTok’s beloved ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’.
Finding its fame through wellness influencer Gracie Norton, the internet’s new beverage obsession is rooted its power to enhance our sleep. According to Google Trends, searches for ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ have soared by 517% in the last seven days.
The recipe is as follows:
1. Start with around 120ml of pure tart cherry juice. According to medicine specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta at Huntington Health in Pasadena, California, the juice contains melatonin, a natural compound that can improve sleep by relaxing muscles and relieving anxiety.
2. Next, add a tablespoon of magnesium powder. This mineral has also been proven to positively affect the nervous system by promoting melatonin and, in turn, aiding sleep. The sleepy girl mocktail tastes even better with flavoured magnesium.  Â
3. The third and final ingredient is a probiotic carbonated drink. Probiotics introduce good bacteria into the gut, relieving discomfort and no doubt helping someone drift off to the land of nod.
@gracie_norton the only time i struggle with sleep is right at the end of my luteal phase! This is working WONDERS!! 💛 (not something im planning on drinking every single night, just near the end of my luteal phase! #healthyhabits #mocktails #bettersleep #sleep ♬ The Lazy Song – Galuh
@maddison__lynn Sleepy girl (& boy) mocktail for your best nights sleep 😴
It’s aesthetic, delicious and packed with sleep-enhancing properties. What’s not to love, right?
Debunking the viral myth
According to experts at beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha, the viral drink might actually be causing more harm than good, and can even increase blood sugar levels and cause stomach discomfort and heartburn.
“There’s a reason why the sleepy girl mocktail tastes so delicious: sugar”, they suggest. “In the 120ml of tart cherry juice that goes into the drink, there are around 16.4 grams of sugar. This weight is equivalent to four teaspoons, which can increase blood sugar levels and bring on a restless night’s sleep when consumed before bed”.
Moreover, “drinking a carbonated beverage before bed can cause bloating and increase the chances of heartburn”, says Dr. Berookim at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California.
Ouch. Another wellness trend seemingly bites the dust. It is also vital to ensure that we’re using the correct magnesium supplement, as studies have proven that magnesium citrate can upset the stomach. Magnesium glycinate is easier for the stomach to absorb, so it is the ideal supplement for a sleepy girl mocktail.
But perhaps the sleepy girl mocktail is simply just another way of romanticising our nightly routines. Experts at Fresha suggest that you can achieve the same benefits of optimal sleeping conditions by implementing good sleep hygiene, reading before bed, using lavender and drinking chamomile tea.
In your healthy girl era? Check out these healthy and organic food delivery services in Dubai.