Internally produced by the brain’s pineal gland, melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep cycles. It’s often taken as a dietary supplement to treat insomnia, jet-lag, and other sleep disorders.
All three fruits in this juice contain melatonin, cherries being the strongest source. To get the most melatonin, be sure to use tart cherries. They’re bright red as opposed to dark red-purple. Sweet cherries actually contain 50 times less melatonin than tart cherries!
The addition of tea in this recipe works wonders for relaxation and is widely believed to improve sleep. Important: be sure the tea you're using is caffeine-free. These tea varieties are most popular for sleep:
We recommend enjoying this juice about an hour before bedtime. To supplement its sleep-enhancing effects, turn off your screens, which emit harmful blue light. Read a book, write in a journal, or listen to relaxing music as you sip this sweet juice.
Ingredients
1 cup caffeine-free tea, cooled
⅓ cup tart cherries
⅓ cup strawberries
⅓ cup grapes
Directions
- Remove stems from the cherries, strawberries, and grapes. Remove pits from the cherries. To remove cherry pits neatly, use a paring knife to cut all the way around the cherry. Twist the halves to open, and remove the pit with the knife.
- Assemble your slow juicer with the juicing strainer. Close the smart cap on the juicer. Slowly feed the fruit into the juicer.
- Pour the cooled tea into the juicer. Wait a few seconds for the ingredients to incorporate inside the juicing bowl, then open the smart cap to release the juice.
- Pour juice into a glass. Relax and enjoy!
For a yummy breakfast the next morning, mix the fruit pulp with your favorite yogurt. Keep in the refrigerator overnight. We like adding a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness, and a sprinkle of granola for crunch. Breakfast is served!
Recipe and video by @myveganbeli
