Nothing is worse than rolling around in bed unable to sleep. You stare at the clock as the minutes tick by, counting down until the time you have to get up.
Lots of people have different tips and tricks to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. There are a lot of different foods that have sleep-promoting properties.
The next time you find yourself unable to fall asleep, give these foods a try:
Turkey
If you’ve ever overdone it at Thanksgiving dinner, then you know about the powerful effects of turkey. There is a reason the post-Thanksgiving naps are so delightful.
For one, turkey is very high in protein. Some evidence has shown that protein before bed can promote tiredness. It also may help improve sleep quality and prevent you from waking up during the night.
Another sleep-promoting property of turkey is the amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid increases your body’s natural production of melatonin. Melatonin is a compound that helps your body regulate its internal clock.
Kiwi
These delicious, furry little green fruits are a great bedtime snack if you want to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Kiwis are low in calories and loaded with a ton of nutrients, including vitamins C and K. These vitamins can help reduce inflammation, which promotes quality sleep and recovery.
Kiwis also might help your body release serotonin. This chemical is released by the brain and can help regulate your internal clock and sleeping schedule.
Fatty fish
The name “fatty fish” does not exactly sound appetizing right before sleeping. However, these fishes, like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, are quite healthy.
These fishes are loaded with healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These acids can help prevent heart disease and increase brain health.
On top of the omega-3s, fatty fish contain vitamin D. These two works in tandem to increase the production of serotonin, which helps you relax and sleep more deeply.
Almonds
Almonds are another great pre-sleep snack. These tree nuts are excellent sources of healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants, which work together to lower the risks of diabetes and heart disease.
The antioxidants help to reduce inflammation and increase sleep quality. Almonds are great sources of magnesium too. Magnesium might help sleep quality by reducing levels of stress hormones.
Almonds are also sources of natural melatonin. This is on top of all of its other sleep promoting qualities!
Cherry Juice
Pure cherry juice has become a popular “super food” as of late. This is because it has a lot of natural sleep controller melatonin.
Cherry juice is loaded with inflammation-controlling antioxidants. It also has a ton of magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.
If you have trouble sleeping, try 8 ounces of cherry juice before bed!
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