The “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” Worked — Just Not in the Way I Expected
As a self-proclaimed night owl and bubbly drink enthusiast?, you can imagine my delight when the now-viral “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” first started making its rounds on TikTok. The magical elixir allegedly is a “match made in heaven” for good sleep, as it’s made with tart cherry juice (which naturally has melatonin), and a scoop of magnesium powder to promote muscle relaxation. But does it actually work? It was only a matter of time before my curiosity got the best of me.
The TikTok comment section of Gracie Norton’s viral video were full of positive testimonies, but also some pretty helpful advice when it came to choosing ingredients. First up: Choose a cherry juice with no added sugars. I also discovered that there are actually many different forms of magnesium, and magnesium glycinate has the best calming properties. Others recommended sparkling water over prebiotic soda to prevent stomach issues at night, so I went that route, too. One trip to Whole Foods and $35 later, and I had everything I needed for a week of nighttime mocktails.
How to Make the Sleepy Girl Mocktail
The steps are simple. Simply grab your *fanciest* glass and combine 1/2 cup tart cherry juice with 1 tablespoon magnesium powder. I like to use my handheld frother (another TikTok find) to make sure it’s mixed well. Then top it off with your favorite sparkling water for the fizziness factor.
I must admit that it was love at first sip. Sparkling water never hit the spot for me quite like a crispy can of Coca-Cola would. But sparkling water and the sweetness of my favorite fruit? Now that I could get behind.
It didn’t take long for me to start looking forward to making Sleepy Girl Mocktails. Pretty soon, I was making them around 2 or 3 p.m. because they were so tasty. And, spoiler alert: It didn’t have me falling asleep at my desk. And according to doctors, that’s not surprising.
“Combining tart cherry juice and magnesium powder into a sleek Sleepy Girl Mocktail may help to bring about a better night’s sleep. But it’s not a magic bullet,” as registered dietitian Devon Peart told The Cleveland Clinic.
Does the Sleepy Girl Mocktail Work?
While the drink didn’t possess the knock-you-out powers for me that some TikTok users claim it does for them, I actually did feel more relaxed. I’m sure the magnesium and melatonin played a bit of a role, but my biggest discovery was that I was consuming so much less caffeine throughout the day by swapping my soda habit with an equally tasty drink.
If you’re like me and love a sweet (read: highly caffeinated) treat at the end of the day, the Sleepy Girl Mocktail might just be your secret to better rest.
