What Is the Magic Ingredient in TikTok’s ‘Sleepy Girl Mocktail’?

The “sleepy girl mocktail” has gone viral on TikTok, with fans claiming it helps them fall asleep — and stay asleep.

“I sleep like a baby drinking this,” said TikTok creator Maddison__Lynn, whose video has had 3.8 million views. And TikToker Taaylorvictoriaa shared a video with her mom, who said the drink gave her “the best sleep I’ve had in I don’t know how long.”

Their video had more than 4.4 million views.

There are variations of the drink, but the consistent ingredients are seltzer (Poppi’s raspberry rose is often used), magnesium, and tart cherry juice.

But while tart cherries contain a small amount of melatonin, what really helps people relax is magnesium.

Magnesium can help with sleep as well as anxiety, which also affects a good night’s rest.

“It’s not a myth. Magnesium helps with anxiety and mood, and it also helps with sleep, and as we know, quality sleep also helps with anxiety and mood,” Kristina Freshour, a registered dietitian at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, tells PEOPLE.

Mocktail – and magnesium supplements – can work because they help address a simple case of magnesium deficiency.

“There are studies that show that people who struggle with anxiety or even depression tend to have lower levels of magnesium, and when supplements are taken, the anxiety improves,” Kristina Freshour, a registered dietitian at the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, tells PEOPLE.

Magnesium supplements have become increasingly popular.

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But there are different types of magnesium on the market, Freshour says.

“The one you’ll see most often on the shelf is magnesium oxide, and it doesn’t actually absorb well at all. So it’s probably not a good type of magnesium to take if you’re taking it for things like sleep and anxiety.”

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The type of magnesium to find for a good night’s rest, Freshour tells PEOPLE, is magnesium glycinate.

“For sleep or anxiety, or even muscle spasms, magnesium glycinate is the best to take.”

But you can take it also much of the supplement, Freshour warns. “There is such a thing as magnesium toxicity,” she tells PEOPLE. “If you have too much magnesium, the kidneys usually help compensate by excreting it, but sometimes if there’s too much, the kidneys can’t keep up with it and that can result in diarrhea.”

Other symptoms of magnesium toxicity, she says, include dizziness, nausea and urinary retention.

Hitting the snooze button on your alarm is good for you, a sleep study says

Pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium.

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But you can also consume magnesium naturally.

“The top five food sources are pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, dark leafy greens like cooked spinach, and cashews,” notes Freshour, adding that the standard American diet is low in magnesium.

And Freshour points out that cooked spinach is a better source of magnesium than, say, spinach salad.

“It’s more available for absorption because you’re cooking some of those anti-nutrients in raw vegetables. So they are more bioavailable when cooked.”

But don’t give up the salad. “Some nutrients will be more in raw vegetables. Some will be larger in cooked vegetables. So everyone’s best bet is just to make sure you get variety.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education