@stephen.cabral: A lot of people are being told to use tart cherry juice before bed. Here's why that might not be a good idea. The reasoning is that it boosts melatonin. The issue is there's only trace amounts of melatonin in tart cherry juice. You could drink it any time of day, and it's not going to make you fall asleep. If you do get a sleep benefit, it's most likely from calming your nervous system with some carbohydrates that lower cortisol. Here's the real issue though. Every eight ounces of tart cherry juice is about 30 grams of sugar. I'm not an advocate of fruit juice in general. If you want cherries, blend them into a smoothie instead of drinking pure juice before bed. If you need melatonin to lower cortisol, use two and a half to five milligrams under the tongue for two minutes. Let it sit, swallow it, and you'll get a great night's sleep.

Dr. Stephen Cabral

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Thursday 10 September 2026 18:30:00 GMT