'I tried the 'sleepy girl mocktail' to tackle my insomnia and it left me amazed'
If you're one of the one in five people in the UK who don't get enough sleep, perhaps you've heard of the so-called 'sleepy girl mocktail' doing the rounds online.
When I heard of the concoction, which has gained over 1.5million views on TikTok, I was suitably intrigued - and understandably sceptical. I really struggle with sleep - and have been known to go for days without any shuteye.
I've tried everything the NHS recommends - from ditching screens at least an hour before bed and avoiding alcohol and caffeine, to white noise apps - but nothing seems to work. So when I heard about the non-alcoholic beverage that claims to help you snooze through the night, I thought it sounded too good to be true.
The trend was founded by content creator Gracie Norton, who showcased her mocktail recipe online, claiming it "worked wonders". The drink consists of tart cherry juice, magnesium powder and sparkling water. Magnesium is known for its ability to promote muscle relaxation - and also better sleep. The concoction looks delicious, and making a mocktail feels like a fun way to wind down in the evenings.
I purchased my supplies at Holland & Barrett - concentrated dark cherry Juice, a tub of Magnesium powder, and sparkling water. It's worth noting that I tried magnesium citrate - but magnesium glycinate is supposed to be even better at promoting sleep. I just couldn't find any in powdered form.
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Other recipes I found online called for a tablespoon of magnesium powder and a cup of cherry juice - but the the instructions on the back of the tub I bought said to use no more than half a teaspoon, so to be on the cautious side, this is what I used. I also only used 20ml of cheery juice, which was the recommended amount.
As you'll see plastered over TikTok, I assembled my drink in a gin glass, topped off with a few ice cubes and a straw. I was initially worried about the powdered magnesium mixing with the cherry juice, but it dissolved quite easily, and was very easy to drink.
There are few ingredients, and it's very easy to make (Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz/ Reach PLC)I drank the beverage about an hour before bed, and was surprised by how delicious it tasted - quite sweet, not too tart, and very fruity. I couldn't taste the magnesium, but there was a little bit left in the bottom of the glass, which I avoided. I could certainly get used to having it as a night cap, and found myself looking forward to my nightly drink.
The first evening I tried the concoction I'd had very little sleep the previous night - which usually for me means I'm in for two to three bad nights. But surprisingly, I couldn't read my book for more than a few minutes before feeling sleepy, and drifted straight off. I woke up a few times during the night, but drifted straight back to sleep.
I woke the next day feeling very refreshed. One of the most surprising effects of it seems to be that I not only fall asleep faster - but I'm less tired the next day. I feel more rested, awake and find myself yawning less.
I thought this might be a one-off, so used it nightly over the next week. This is the proper test, because I was going on holiday - which meant sleeping in a different bed, and also drinking alcohol - which for me is a recipe for disaster when it comes to insomnia.
It started looking forward to my nightly tipple (Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz/ Reach PLC)
It's a nice alternative to alcohol (Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz/ Reach PLC)Over the seven days, I slept every night - which for me isn't a given. There were some nights where it took me a few hours to get to sleep, and I woke up several times - but this is still miles better than a usual week for me.
All in all, I'll take it as a win. I also found the added benefit of feeling more awake the next day to be amazing. However, I've found that if I have it too close to bedtime I'll need to get up to go to the toilet several times.
Intrigued to find out if it was just a placebo effect, I spoke to Kate Booker, nutritionist at Nutrition Geeks, who confirmed that the mocktail can help you sleep. Kate said: "It could help support your body to sleep better for sure. I can get behind this trend if you're using sparkling water instead of other fizzy drinks."
Explaining how magnesium can help you sleep, she said: "Magnesium is a vital mineral that can act like nature's tranquilliser, calming the nervous system, relaxing muscles and can support better sleep. Magnesium is needed for our bodies to make neurotransmitters such as GABA that have a relaxing effect on the body."
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Meanwhile, the "cherries can increase melatonin which helps promote better sleep". She continued: "We can support our bodies' own melatonin production by getting plenty of natural light (outside) in the morning and reducing artificial blue light in the evening (from bright lights and screens)".
She continued: "Some studies show regular tart cherry juice consumption can improve sleep quality, if you're getting a good amount of natural light and blocking blue light in the evening then you will be supporting your body's sleep wake cycle and improving your sleep quality."
The magnesium dissolved easily (Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz/ Reach PLC)
It tastes delicious (Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz/ Reach PLC)So which magnesium is best? Kate explained: "There are a few different forms that are great, magnesium glycinate or malate are my favourites, citrate can speed up stool transit time so isn't suitable for everyone. You can also absorb magnesium through your skin when you are having a magnesium salt bath, this would also promote a good night's sleep before bed."
Kate explained that drinking the sleepy girl mocktail one hour before bed should "work well for most people". But keep in mind that there could be some side effects such as needing to use the toilet - so you shouldn't drink too much.
The nutritionist explained: "Most people would benefit from magnesium and the tart cherry juice is pretty low in sugar and contains antioxidants. This sleepy girl mocktail is worth a try if you want to improve your sleep, just don't drink too much before bed as you may wake up for a wee in the middle of the night!
"Keeping your caffeine consumption in check can help promote a better night's sleep too. Generally, magnesium supplementation is well tolerated. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and those with health conditions or taking medications should check with their doctor prior to taking nutritional supplements."
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