This yummy, crave-able tart cherry juice nightcap is my favorite drink! It’s full of minerals, antioxidants, and melatonin to aid sleep. It is so simple to make and you can enjoy it an hour or so before bed. I crave it every night and I swear it is helping me sleep better. It’s made from simple ingredients, that I already have on hand, and takes just a few minutes to make. Trust me you need to try it to improve sleep.

Why You Will Love the Tart Cherry Juice Nightcap

Tart, tangy, crave-able flavor
A great replacement for wine but with many health benefits
Simple and easy to make
Only three ingredients
Perfect for bedtime because it improves sleep
Can be enjoyed by the whole family

Tart Cherry Juice Benefits for Sleep

This tart cherry juice nightcap has become my replacement for a glass of wine and it is so much more relaxing. You’ll love this nightcap not only for its relaxing benefits but also because it is full of nutrients that aid in your body’s normal functions, especially sleep. Instead of depleting nutrients, as wine may do, it adds vital nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and melatonin. Melatonin, found in tart cherries, is a hormone your body produces that aids sleep. Tart cherries also contain tryptophan, an amino acid used by your body to make melatonin. Both of these nutrients combined are the magic in the tart cherry juice nightcap that aids in sleep. These nutrients can help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Even better, the melatonin found in tart cherry juice is natural instead of a synthetic option that may be found in a supplement.

The Importance of Quality Sleep

Quality sleep is vital to health. During sleep, our cells can repair and restore aiding in health and healing. Sleep can also aid in mental health, good quality sleep or a lack of can affect your mood, causing anxiety, stress, and depression. Our society generally says that sleep isn’t important or it’s just something that gets worse with age, but that’s actually not true. It may be common to be experiencing sleep issues but it shouldn’t be normal, even as you age. There are lots of factors that can affect sleep, like light exposure during the day and at night. Making simple changes can have a huge impact on helping you sleep better. The first step, try adding in this tart cherry juice nightcap recipe.

Other Benefits of the Tart Cherry Juice Nightcap

Organic tart cherry juice is full of many nutrients like potassium, iron, magnesium, and copper but why is this important? Making sure the foods you are consuming contain nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, is critical to your health. You want your food and drinks to be adding to your nutrient stores and giving your body what it needs to function properly. The minerals found in tart cherry juice are helpful for many functions in the body, but let’s look at magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral that benefits your muscles, brain, blood sugar levels and so much more. Deficiencies have been linked to heart attacks and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. Adding a tart cherry juice nightcap to your routine can help to make sure you are getting enough of this critical nutrient.

Tart Cherry Juice Nightcap Ingredients

Organic tart cherry juice – I love Lakewood pure tart cherry juice
Bubbly mineral water – My favorite is Mountain Valley sparking water. It is clean and has lots of nutrients.
Fresh lime juice – this ingredient is optional but it adds a fun, refreshing flavor that compliments the cherry perfectly.

FAQ’s

Is there a difference between tart cherry juice and cherry juice? Yes, both have antioxidants and nutrients but tart cherry juice contains more melatonin than regular cherry juice, making it better for aiding in sleep.

Is tart cherry juice better than melatonin? In my opinion, yes. Using the natural form of melatonin that is found in tart cherry juice is better for you than taking a synthetic melatonin supplement.

How much cherry juice should I drink for sleep? Some studies show one cup of tart cherry juice is needed to aid in sleep but in my personal experience I only need a few ounces. My advice is to follow this tart cherry juice nightcap recipe first then add more to your drink as needed.

Can kids have tart cherry juice? Yes, make sure to dilute the tart cherry juice with water and start with a small amount. You can also try a tart cherry juice gummy instead. Find a recipe here (coming soon). As always this is not medical advice so check with your child’s pediatrician first.