The bizarre trend of drinking hot lettuce water before bed could actually have some genuine benefits
Getting a good night’s sleep during the winter months can be challenging for many, whether they’re battling common winter ailments, dealing with disrupted body clocks due to limited daylight hours or feeling the stress of the festive season. Consequently, some folks turn to social media, where influencers boast about numerous hacks to help you nod off faster, improve your sleep quality or regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
However, these digital hacks, tips and tricks seldom translate into tangible results, but experts at Electric Tobacconist highlighted a few TikTok trends that might actually deliver what they promise. The first, and arguably the most unusual, is the lettuce water trend. This hack suggests that drinking hot lettuce water before bed, prepared in the same way as a cup of black tea, can enhance your sleep.
While the experts noted this specific method needs more comprehensive research, it’s believed that preparing lettuce in this way releases some of its natural compounds, like lactucarium, which promotes relaxation and reduces stress. The warm, herbal aspect of the water also contributes to a good bedtime routine, helping your body to unwind and prepare for sleep. In a worst-case scenario, if this hack doesn’t work for you, it won’t cause any harm, but experts cautioned against drinking too much before bed as this could lead to a full bladder disrupting your sleep.
Another sleep hack that took the internet by storm this year is the military sleep method as former military members shared a trick they reportedly learned to get as much sleep as possible while on duty and in high-stress situations. To do the method, start by lying on your back and systematically relaxing every part of your body from head to toe, clearing your mind through this visualisation and potentially repeating a calming mantra too.
Surprisingly, this simple method has a lot of scientific backing as the unique combination of mental imagery, muscle relaxation and the unavoidable deep breathing that comes with meditation like this calms the nervous system and eases the body into a sleep-ready state. Studies have shown progressive muscle relaxation techniques can improve how quickly you fall asleep as well as your sleep quality.
One sleep hack that didn’t get as much attention as the other two was Brain Tapping, still racking up hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok. This technique uses specialised headphones and LED-equipped visors, stimulating the body’s senses with soothing sounds, binaural beats and gentle light pulses to transition your brainwaves themselves from active to relaxed states.
The experts highlighted a Brazilian study on this tech-boosted sleep method, which not only improved sleep but also offered some unexpected health perks. These included heightened relaxation, reduced stress levels, improved overall well-being and an increased heart rate variability, all after just one Brain Tapping session.
