Don’t sleep on this trend.
TikTokers are swapping their melatonin supplements for a “sleepy girl mocktail” — a lip-puckering concoction of tart cherry juice, magnesium powder and Olipop prebiotic soda. One search on the app returns a slew of users inspired to try the purported shut-eye blend.
Holistic health practitioner Calee Shea first wowed her nearly 80,000 followers with the blood-red beverage in a clip with over 134,000 views this year.
“The hero ingredient here is tart cherry juice,” she states in the video, holding up a glass jug. Shea topped off her drink with a ginger lemon-flavored Olipop.
Cherries — and their juice — have been linked to better sleep, due to their high concentrations of melatonin and tryptophan, an essential amino acid involved in the formation of the hormone that enables restful sleep.
“Tart cherries have been studied for years for their incredible benefits for muscle recovery and also sleep, so having this juice as the base of the ‘mocktail’ is fabulous,” registered dietitian Jenna Werner told The Post in an email Wednesday.
“Tart cherries contain several antioxidants and polyphenols that provide antioxidant and inflammation response benefits. In addition, they contain some melatonin and also tryptophan,” the sleep enthusiast continued.
“Some research has shown that supplementation with tart cherry juice has helped increase melatonin production as well, and melatonin is linked to rest and sleep!” she added.
Werner praised the combo of the juice and Olipop, a viral sensation that is not only low sugar, but also boasts fiber to slow the digestion of the sugar in cherries.
“The magnesium addition is the one piece I would not necessarily just start arbitrarily adding without a discussion with your healthcare team,” Werner warned. “If you do add it though, make sure to add the correct form, as certain forms of magnesium can have some digestive impacts.”
Specifically, magnesium glycinate promotes rest, calms the mind and is also “better absorbed by the blood brain barrier.”
Given that the fruity brew has “the components to help promote rest,” this might be one of the few TikTok trends backed by an expert — and even considered “fun.”
Werner noted that including it in a night-time routine signals to your brain that it’s time to wind down.
“What I have learned about sleep though, is that one of the key things most people miss is that they should aim to go to bed at the same time each night,” she said. “Having this as part of the routine prior to sleep could also help!”
Influencer Gracie Norton credits the fruity mocktail for giving her the “best sleep,” adding a teaspoon of magnesium powder in a video that racked up 1.5 million views. She even went so far as to champion the night cap as a beverage “made in heaven for good sleep.”
Her slumber endeavors inspired user Sierra Cooley to try her hand at the sleepy time mixture.
“All in all, I did sleep really well, and it relaxed me a lot right before bed,” the creator reported. What she didn’t expect, though, were the vivid dreams she’s blaming on the additional melatonin.
“So if you deal with any form of anxiety, I don’t know if I would recommend it,” she added, noting that she felt anxious in her dreams and the next morning.
Werner suggests gulping down the drink with a cheese and crackers snack to add protein and fat to slow digestion and balance blood sugars.
She explained that sometimes people who have trouble sleeping through the night wake up when blood sugar levels dip, or they aren’t meeting their nutritional needs throughout the day.
“This could be like a ‘healthy mocktail and cheese’ sleep routine,” she advised.
As more Americans turn to melatonin supplements for a good night’s sleep, experts recommend consuming certain foods that have been touted as sleep aids.
Tomatoes, walnuts, bananas and oats contain melatonin, and even noshing on a kiwi as a late-night snack could alleviate insomnia. However, anything that is spicy, caffeinated, fried or fatty should be avoided before turning in for the night.
Not eating enough could also be the reason for a poor night’s slumber, Werner warned.
“Be sure to meet your needs daily to promote good rest,” she said.