Wellness experts issue warning over TikTok-viral 'sleepy girl mocktail'

If you’ve been tempted to try the viral ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ then you might want to think twice before giving it a good swig.

You may have noticed that ‘girl’ trends have been frequently flooding your TikTok For You Page over the past year.

First, there was the ‘that girl’ wellness trend which quickly bled into the picky-bits ‘girl dinner’ reveal.

But now, it’s all about the ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ - a pimped-up cranberry juice that influencers are swearing by to experience a deep beauty sleep.

The drink first went viral in January 2023 but recently had a resurgence when popular wellness influencer Gracie Norton reshared the recipe on her social media page.

Every creator seems to be putting their own spin on the before-bed beverage, but its main components include tart cherry juice, magnesium powder and a dash of fizzy water.

Some however are swapping carbonated water out for flavoured Olipop soda while others are doubling up on cherry juice and popping a magnesium supplement before hitting the hay.

But health experts warn that the inclusion of magnesium could cause upset stomachs and a few loo trips during the night.

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Speaking about the viral drink, nutritionist Toby King said: “The theory behind the mocktail is that the cherry juice and magnesium release hormones that can make you sleepy.

“In theory, this could work. In reality, the science is very limited.”

Moreover, King told Designer Home Spas that he’s seen many TikTok creators suffering laxative effects while drinking the mocktail and that adding a magnesium scoop to the drink could bring you over the recommended daily limit.

Fellow nutritionist Amie Charraudeau also believes that the quality and quantity of ingredients can make or break the drink.

She told Cosmopolitan: “Lower magnesium levels have been linked with reduced melatonin levels (a hormone produced by the body when it’s dark that promotes sleep) [and] the supplement most commonly associated with aiding sleep is magnesium glycinate (magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine)."

She agreed that research on the subject is ‘limited’ and that many previously conducted studies combined magnesium with other supplements used animal subjects or small sample sizes.

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Charraudeau continued to say that there is also a ‘limited association’ between improved sleep and tart cherry juice consumption.

However, if you still want to give this beverage a chance, the nutritionist says to purchase Montmorency cherry juice as the sour drink has been researched for sleep benefits.

“In terms of ratios, I wouldn't exceed the dose on the packaging of magnesium powder (1 teaspoon or whatever it might be) and one serving of cherry juice,” she added.

“You could add as much cherry as you liked for flavour but it's very expensive and full of sugar so not recommended!”

So while this viral drink may be tasty, it’s probably best to sip in small quantities.