Sleepy Mommy Mocktail: Are Adaptogens The New Wine?

Everyone is talking about the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, which is a combination of tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, and citrus sparkling water. Pretty straightforward, but magnesium doesn’t always react well with middle-aged women with IBS issues, so what can we do instead?

Sentia is a new non-alcoholic spirit from the UK, and it’s an answer to all your prayers if you’re looking for something to help you relax without the alcohol. Sentia is what they call a GABA spirit. It uses a combination of functional ingredients to create a mixture that contributes to an increase of GABA in your brain, leading to a sense of relaxation and calmness. Here’s a primer on GABA and what this means for you and your mocktails.

What is GABA?

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the brain's ability to regulate anxiety and stress levels. It acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it helps calm down neural activity, promoting relaxation and reducing feelings of anxiety. GABA binds to specific receptors in the brain, causing a decrease in the firing of neurons, which leads to a calming effect on the nervous system.

How does traditional alcohol increase GABA?

Alcohol interacts with the GABA system by enhancing its effects. When alcohol is consumed, it increases the activity of GABA receptors, leading to an amplified inhibitory response in the brain. This results in a heightened feeling of relaxation and sedation. However, prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt the balance of GABA in the brain, leading to tolerance and dependence on alcohol to maintain normal levels of relaxation.

How do functional ingredients in drinks like Sentia mimic this?

For obvious reasons, Sentia is mum on what their combination of ingredients is, but generally drink producers use active ingredients such as ashwagandha, valerian root and functional mushrooms like reishi. Don’t be fooled by their ‘natural’ aspect - these active ingredients are just as potent sometimes as regular pharmaceuticals.

** Many products in this category do not have proper dosage levels, so please take caution when using anything that doesn’t have clear labelling.

What does Sentia taste like?

Sentia is really good, and it doesn’t take like a ‘herbal’ remedy like Three Spirits sometimes does. It genuinely tastes like an Italian amaro, with a nice juicy bitterness. It would work in a ‘faux’ negroni or a spritz just like any other non-alcoholic Italian bitter.

What is the Sleepy Mommy Mocktail?

Ingredients & Preparation

1.5 oz Sentia or other ‘functional’ zero-alcohol spirit
3-4 oz non-alcoholic sparkling rose (or flavoured sparkling water or club soda)
A squeeze of blood orange juice (about .5 oz, optional)

Stir everything together with ice and enjoy. Sweet dreams!