We’ve debunked the science behind the new lettuce water Tik Tok trend – does it really help you sleep?
POV: You’ve just seen a lifehack on Tik Tok that says drinking lettuce water can help you sleep.
This strange Tik Tok trend claiming that drinking lettuce water can cause sleepiness has sparked a few questions. Keep reading to have these questions answered.
Who Started the Lettuce Water Trend?
A Tik Tok user, @shapla_11, recently went viral for sharing a quick and easy life hack to improve the quality of her sleep by pouring boiling water over a handful of lettuce to make lettuce water, which made her drowsy.
“Apparently, drinking lettuce water makes you sleepy” – @shapla_11
How Does it Cause Sleepiness?
According to a study done by the Journal of Food Science Biotechnology in 2017, some types of lettuce actually contain higher amounts of lactucin, which has been shown to have analgesic (pain relief) and sedative properties.
This study concluded that the properties of lactucin found in lettuce does not actually cause sleepiness, but it causes an extension of sleep.
How Can I make it?
This recipe is super easy, to make the famous lettuce water follow these steps:
- Grab a handful of Romaine or Cos lettuce leaves from the supermarket.
- Wash the lettuce leaves and place them in a mug.
- Pour boiling water over them and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the lettuce leaves and drink.
Will it Work For Me?
The effects of lettuce water will be different for everyone, but a majority of Tik Tok users claim that it does indeed help them get to sleep.
Publisher Lauren Rose drank lettuce water so her readers didn’t have to, and said she believes there are better and more efficient ways to get to sleep, but she can’t deny that the lettuce water did seem to help.
Lauren did not fall asleep immediately after drinking the water, but she did find that she had a deeper and longer than average sleep.
What Else Can I Do if Lettuce Water Doesn’t Work?
Not feeling sleepy? Try these protein rich foods instead.
According to Dr Verena Senn, eggs, kiwis and nuts all have a small amount of an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan makes proteins and other important molecules in the body, such as melatonin which is the sleep hormone.
Dr Verena Senn said that by eating these protein rich foods, more melatonin will be produced, helping to better regulate the circadian rhythm (body clock). By having a regulated body clock, falling asleep at the same time every night will be made so much easier.
“One key thing to remember is not to eat too close to bedtime. The later you eat the harder it is for your body to digest, and the harder it’ll be to sleep” – Dr Verena Senn
Where Can I Find the Tik Toks About Drinking Lettuce Water?
Not convinced? Click HERE to watch all tik toks with the hashtag #lettucewater.
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