Sleepy Girl Mocktail – does it actually promote sleep?

Sleep is extremely important for our well-being, among other things because of the repair processes that take place in our body and brain during that time. Unfortunately, many people have great difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. A trendy drink from social media promises help: the "Sleepy Girl Mocktail." But what's the deal with the supposedly sleep-inducing magic potion – and above all – what's in it?

The ingredients for the Sleepy Girl Mocktail

The recipe for a "Sleepy Girl Mocktail" is simple: Mix half a glass of sparkling water with half a glass of sour cherry juice and add a teaspoon of magnesium powder to it. Stir, and it's done. Blissful sleep allegedly guaranteed. While the TikTok community hypes the drink, scientists remain skeptical. Given the ingredients, the sleep-inducing effect is not necessarily guaranteed.

Sleeping aids: What does the sour cherry do?

Sour cherry juice contains the sleep hormone Melatonin and also secondary plant compounds that ensure more melatonin can be produced in the body. The recommended dose of melatonin for falling asleep is 1-2 mg once daily.

A study found that 100 grams of sour cherry juice contain about 0.01 percent of a milligram of melatonin. So you would need to drink whole canisters of the juice to feel a sleep-inducing effect.

The components also vary from juice to juice: The Montmorency cherry contains particularly high levels of melatonin - but it is rarely available in Germany and is sold more in the USA and Canada.

Can you sleep better with magnesium?

Magnesium , the second ingredient in the sleep-inducing drink, is indeed involved in the production of serotonin and melatonin, and it also inhibits the release of stress hormones – this could lead to improved sleep.

However, magnesium deficiency is quite rare in Germany, which means it is not necessarily needed as a dietary supplement. And: An overdose can cause diarrhea, which isn’t exactly the ideal companion for a restful night's sleep.

It is believed that the Sleepy Girl Mocktail does not have a groundbreaking effect, but it doesn’t do any harm either. Rather, a placebo effect is suspected: Those who believe in the mocktail actually sleep better. After all, faith is powerful and can move mountains.