Pink Sleep Elixir

Name: Easy and Quick Sleep Inducing Bedtime Drink Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 3/4 cup tart cherry juice; 1/4 cup almond milk; Optional: 1 tsp honey for sweetener and rose petals for garnish

by Nicole | nutritiousnicole_rdn

1 mug

7 min

Trouble falling asleep?

I've been having troubles getting to sleep at night & I don't take sleeping medication as a personal choice so, as a registered dietitian I used my knowledge of the nutritional impact on our sleep cycle to come up with this all natural "sleep elixir". It is a GAME CHANGER

Here's why it works: The quercetin found in tart cherry juice has been known to reduce inflammation, muscle damage, oxidative stress after strenuous exercise, and contains a natural high amount of dietary melatonin. Some research shows that the polyphenols in tart cherries also improve sleep. Magnesium relaxes your muscles and has a calming effect that can sometimes help reduce anxiety, depression, etc & almonds are one of the best sources of magnesium (hence the almond milk). Warm milk is soothing but also contains tryptophan, calcium, vitamin D, and melatonin which all play a role in your sleep cycle.

Next time you are struggling to fall asleep, make this 2 ingredient sleep elixir!

For similar recipes and nutrition facts follow @nutritiousnicole_rdn

Interested in working with a professional registered dietitian to find the perfect personalized nutrition plan for you? Apply on my website www.nutritiousnicole.com

Rose petals added for garnish are optional

It is optional to froth the elixir but is more soothing to drink if you do

If you have a larger mug, add more juice/almond milk to your desired taste

Pink Sleep Elixir

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Recipe details

Yield 1 mug
Time spent: Prep time: 5 Minutes Cook time: 2 Minutes Total time: 7 min

Show Nutrition Info

Per serving

% Daily value

Instructions

Pink Sleep Elixir

In a small pot, heat tart cherry juice and almond milk on medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Using a milk frother, froth the liquid before serving (optional)

Tips

The reason tart cherry juice is the main ingredient is because of the nutritional impact it has on our sleep cycle. Using another juice will no longer have it considered a "sleep elixir"
Use tart cherry juice 100% , do not use the "cherry cocktails" as it does not have the same effect
Drink 1-2 hours before bedtim

Comments

Jean on Mar 06, 2021

I try it out I need help I can’t sleep well at night 👀

18 Reply
- See 2 previous
- Frances Robinson on Mar 07, 2021
  
  The very best thing you can do to sleep better at night is to exercise at least 5 days a week. Ideally, do cardo on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Do strength training on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Look on YouTube -- there are TONS of good exercise videos. Even if you're not old, you could start with Silver Sneaker's videos. However, just walking (ideally, outside) for 15-20 minutes in the morning and 15-20 minutes in the afternoon will do well for your sleep also. You could start with just walking. //// I HATED to exercise -- well, I still don't like it -- until a personal trainer said: "Exercise is hard work." :-) I kept thinking it should be fun. Exercise is not fun for most of us. :-) So now I look at exercise as work that I do every day, like it or not. And once you see how much it helps with sleep -- you'll keep up with exercise.
  
  14
- Lou on Mar 07, 2021
  
  Frances, Thank you so much. Very kind of you.
  
  6
- Mac104058427 on May 26, 2024
  
  Frances - That doesn't work for everyone. My husband exercises religiously. He still has trouble sleeping.
  
  Like
Nancy Nesbitt on Mar 06, 2021

Is there another fruit juice that can be substituted for the tart cherry juice? I just can't handle the flavor of cherries. Thanks!

29 Reply
- See 7 previous
- Peggy on Mar 07, 2021
  
  Try the V8 pomegranate/blueberry combo
  
  6
- Nicole | nutritiousnicole_rdn on Mar 07, 2021
  
  Hi, thanks for the question! The tart cherry juice has natural components that can impact our sleep cycle which is why it is the main ingredient. If you use another juice such as blueberry/pomegranate, it would just be the flavor and not have the same sleep effect. You can always add a splash of honey or cinnamon to change the flavor as well. See the reasons/nutritional benefits in my description :)
  
  9
- April on Mar 07, 2021
  
  You could try (edible) lavender buds & almond milk + honey. Trader Joe’s also has a boxed lavender milk. It’s almond milk + lavender + lightly sweetened. I’ve seen it but not tried it yet.
  
  1
- Frances Robinson on Mar 07, 2021
  
  You DO NOT LIKE CHERRIES? That does not compute! LOLOLOLOL Isn't it amazing how different we all are? :-)
  
  7
- Nancy Nesbitt on Mar 08, 2021
  
  I know, I know. Cherry must be a universal fav like chocolate. I can only think that I don't like it now because of all the meds I took when I was very ill as a 6-yr-old....way back then, cherry was the only flavor they had for children's meds - and not all of them were flavored.
  
  5
- Vic27016595 on Mar 06, 2022
  
  She specifically said to not use any other juice because it would not be considered a sleep elixir, you can but it won’t have the same effect.
  
  8
- Faith Warkentine on Mar 14, 2023
  
  No. Its a little known fact that cherries help you sleep . I often eat 10 or more cherries before bed to sleep well
  
  6
- Marla Harrington on Mar 14, 2023
  
  no. Only tart cherry juice
  
  3
- Mary Beth Miller Murchison on Mar 21, 2024
  
  one thing I find that helps me if you can’t handle cherry juice (although I don’t think tart cherry juice doesn’t really taste much like cherries), is just warm milk and honey.
  
  1
- Dianawalls50 on Nov 09, 2024
  
  My grandmother use to warm a cup of milk with a little vanilla in it. She said when she couldn't sleep it helped.
  
  Like