Fall asleep faster and stay asleep better with a simple drink? The “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” is currently all the rage on TikTok. This is what a sleep researcher says about the hype.
A short time to fall asleep and wake up completely refreshed in the morning – who doesn’t want that? Sleep is important for our well-being, our body and the brain. But many people find it difficult to doze off straight away in the evening and sleep through the night. This affects everyday life, health and psychology. On the social media platform TikTok, users are promoting a drink that is supposed to solve exactly this problem: the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail”.
What’s in the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail”?
The drink is said to shorten the time it takes to fall asleep. It consists of magnesium powder, tart cherry juice and mineral water or tonic water as well as ice cubes. The mocktail should then be drunk shortly before going to bed. Sour cherries are a natural source of the sleep hormone melatonin, and magnesium is also said to have sleep-promoting qualities.
“Magnesium may cause signaling pathways in the brain that are important for falling asleep and staying asleep,” explains sleep researcher Christian Benedict when asked by the news agency spot on news. It also promotes the production of melatonin in the brain and reduces the release of the body’s stress hormone cortisol.
Does the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” really do anything?
The sleep researcher does not rule out that the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” actually has a sleep-promoting effect. However, he suspects that the effects advertised by numerous TikTok users are more likely to be a placebo effect. The same applies according to Dr. Benedict also for another TikTok trend that is supposed to contribute to good sleep: spraying magnesium spray on your feet.
Because: “The causes of poor sleep are often not caused by a magnesium or melatonin deficiency, but by other factors such as irregular bedtimes, drinking alcohol in the evening, using a smartphone in bed, persistent stress or even undiagnosed sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea.”
Six tips to help you sleep better
There are other methods for better sleep. To extend your deep sleep phases, experts recommend various measures.
Get enough exercise during the day: So you are not only mentally tired but also physically tired. For example, go for a walk or do some exercise during the day.
Watch your weight: Those who are overweight are prone to snoring and sleep apnea. The resulting daytime tiredness deprives you of the strength for exercise. You’ll also get more hungry. Both act like an accelerant for your excess weight. Get medical advice about what you can do about it.
Go to bed at regular times: Humans are creatures of habit, which is why it is advisable to maintain a consistent time to fall asleep. If you sometimes go to bed at 11 p.m. and sometimes at 2 a.m., you are making it unnecessarily difficult for yourself to fall asleep.
Reduce cell phone and media consumption before sleep: Experts recommend a waiting period of at least one hour between the last episode of your favorite series or the last like on Instagram and going to bed. The reason is the so-called blue frequencies that these screens emit. They keep us awake and prevent the sleep hormone melatonin from being released.
Drink alcohol only in moderation: A glass of wine or beer can make it easier to fall asleep, but two glasses prevent you from entering the all-important deep sleep phases. The same goes for caffeine; 90 percent of people feel negative effects on their sleep if they drink coffee too late in the evening.
Avoid exercising shortly before going to bed: Exertion causes the body’s temperature to rise and for a restful and deep sleep, the body should cool down and calm down. That’s why it’s advisable to open the windows or at least turn down the heating in the bedroom.
By (ncz/spot)