Nutritionist warns that a viral ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ could cause an unpleasant side effect
If you have trouble sleeping, you’re probably willing to try anything.
From melatonin gummies to breathing exercises, there’s no shortage of tips for getting some much-needed rest.
Now TikTokers have called ‘sleepy girl mocktails’ the latest fail-safe trick for falling asleep.
Usually consisting of carbonated drinks with cherry juice, probiotics like Olipop or Poppi, and magnesium supplements, sleepy girl cocktails are meant to produce sleep-inducing hormones.
However, experts warn that magnesium can lead to diarrhea and other stomach problems.
The ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ has gone viral on TikTok, with makers claiming the cherry juice and magnesium in it can induce sleep
‘Sleepy girl mocktail’ has over 58.7 million searches on TikTok and experts warn the drink could lead to uncomfortable effects like diarrhea
This is because magnesium, in high doses, can relax the muscles in the intestines and stomach, increasing the sense of urgency.
“I have seen many social media users talking about suffering from laxative effects while drinking this mocktail,” says nutritionist Toby King.
The main ingredient of the sleepy girl mocktail, cherry juice, is said to produce sleep-inducing hormones.
Cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that determines how sleeping or awake people feel.
Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland in the brain and its release in the body is controlled by light.
Magnesium is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods such as spinach, beans and nuts
During the day, when the eye absorbs light, melatonin levels in the body are low and as a result we feel awake.
But when darkness decreases and the amount of light absorbed by the eye decreases, more melatonin circulates through the body.
Melatonin prepares the body for sleep by slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and changing the way heat is stored.
All this makes people feel sleepy.
However, cherries contain much less melatonin than you can find in supplements.
A Study from 2019For example, it turned out that 100 grams of cherry juice contained only 0.1 percent of a milligram of melatonin.
According to the Sleep Foundation, the amount of melatonin in supplements varies widely, from about 0.3 milligrams to 20 milligrams.
The agency said the average melatonin dosage among American adults is 4.8 milligrams.
The mocktails also contain magnesium powder, which has been linked to increased feelings of relaxation, although studies are mixed.
A 2022 review published in the journal Biological trace element research found that while some observational studies suggested magnesium was associated with better sleep, other randomized trials showed it had no effect.
King said Designer home spas: ‘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.”
Ms King also said that although magnesium has been linked to better bone health, blood pressure and a lower risk of anxiety and depression, you’re probably getting enough of it in your diet.
According to Harvard Health, magnesium is particularly rich in nuts, pumpkin seeds, peanut butter, beans, spinach, brown rice, salmon, poultry, bananas, raisins and dark chocolate.
‘One scoop of a magnesium supplement, along with all the food you have consumed in a day, can easily put you over the recommended daily limit for magnesium intake,’ said Ms King.
The current recommended daily intake of magnesium is approximately 400 to 420 milligrams per day for men and 310 to 320 milligrams for women.
Ms King also said that although magnesium overdose is rare, it can lead to gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and nausea. This is because magnesium can relax the muscles in your digestive tract.
In large quantities, this can lead to excessive relaxation, which can lead to diarrhea.
“I have seen many social media users talking about the laxative effects while drinking this mocktail,” she said.
‘Although some people think this is a normal side effect, it is not. It is a sign that you are taking too much magnesium and you should consult your doctor immediately.’