Can the “sleep girl mocktail” help you fall asleep faster, or stay asleep longer? We’ve all seen the combination of sleep inducing ingredients make the rounds on social media, but does it actually work?
According to a recent article from CBS News: Healthwatch, the drink ingredients, which are tart cherry juice mixed with magnesium powder, do have research backing their ability to help you fall asleep. Tart cherry juice contains a small amount of natural melatonin and the amino acid tryptophan (which makes us sleepy after eating turkey on Thanksgiving!). And there are dozens of studies backing up the claims that magnesium aids in sleep.
The CBS News article source, Dr. Steven Feinsilver, who is the director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, thinks something else may also be contributing to the drinks popularity and success.
"Anything that you might take that you believe will relax you and make you sleepy can do so. Sleep is very susceptible to the placebo effect," Dr. Feinsilver says.
So should you give it a try? While it is always a good idea to check in with your doctor before starting any new supplements, these two ingredients in reasonable doses may be just what you need to help you relax and catch some zzz’s.
Want some other ideas to help you relax? Check out some of our suggested sleep products here and if you decide to try out the cocktail, here are our recommended magnesium supplements.
Check out the CBS article in full here.
Turkey has long been known to help you feel sleepy, thanks to it containing tryptophan. If you have extra turkey and are looking for a quick dinner to help you feel sleepy tonight, try this quesadilla!