A sleep expert has warned that Dua Lipa’s viral – and bizarre – Diet Coke drink could cause issues with your sleep, and if you want to try it, you may want to wait until a certain time. However one of its ingredients could in fact help.
The pop sensation sparked online controversy after posting a TikTok video about her favourite beverage where she mixes Diet Coke with pickle juice, pickles, jalapeno juice and jalapenos. With millions of people keen to see the concoction, fellow celebrities including chef Gordon Ramsey even tried it himself. But, the moment the drink touched his taste buds, Gordon immediately spat it out, exclaiming: “Dua Lipa, for God’s sake girl. You’ll ruin your vocal chords.”
But whilst it may be a fun drink to try, according to Rex Isap, a sleep expert at Happy Beds, the concoction could impact your sleep due to the caffeine, not to mention that Dua Lipa’s Diet Coke mix packs an extra, sleep-stopping punch due to the addition of jalapenos. Rex explains: “Drinking Diet Coke regularly can result in you losing sleep. Studies have shown that in children, a soda or fizzy drink once a day can lead to a loss of 12 minutes of sleep. The more you drink, and the larger your drink, the more sleep you could lose.
“Caffeine can also take hours to leave your system, with studies showing that 400mg of caffeine can severely disrupt your sleep up to six hours before bed. That’s not to mention that soda and caffeinated drinks can also lead to more frequent trips to the bathroom and further disruption to your sleep.”
So what is the best time to enjoy it? Rex suggests: “If you are attempting to try Dua Lipa’s drink, do so no later than 3pm to ensure your sleep doesn’t suffer.”
Can jalapenos affect my sleep?
“Jalapenos and other spicy foods can elevate your core body temperature which naturally starts to drop at night to pave the way for sleep. When your body temperature increases, you are more likely to experience sleep disturbances”, says Rex.
He adds: “Spicy food can also cause worsened symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux, which can be exacerbated as you lie down. If you’ve ever had spicy food and struggled to sleep at night, that’s why.”
However, Rex notes that one ingredient in Dua Lipa’s drink could actually help you sleep.
Can pickles help me sleep?
Yes. They can. The sleep expert says that they can “aid with digestion and could help you sleep better. Fermented pickles, in particular, are full of bacteria that can help your gut health.”
The sleep expert continued: “Your gut can impact your sleep and this natural aid could improve any issues you have and irritation when lying down or attempting to sleep. Pickle juice has also been shown to reduce muscle cramps, which can be another barrier to a good night’s sleep.”