If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, the foods you’re eating for dinner might be to blame. Spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol are all foods that have been shown to keep you up at night and cause a less restful night sleep. Eating certain foods as a snack before bed however, may help you drift off more peacefully and keep you sleeping longer. While some of these may also be your favorite breakfast foods, they contain properties that can lead to a calmer and more restful bedtime. Check out this list of what to eat for a better nights sleep.
Bananas
While bananas do provide a burst of energy in the morning or before a work out, they are also chocked full of magnesium. Magnesium is known to relax your muscles. Bananas are also rich in melatonin and serotonin which will help encourage your body to sleep.
Almonds
Almonds are a great snack for many reasons. They are a good source of healthy fat and also contain helpful amounts of magnesium and tryptophan. Both of these naturally relax your muscles and calm nerve function. They will also help steady your heart rhythm to help you drift off peacefully.
Honey
Honey is amazing for many reasons. One little teaspoon of this power food will stimulate your brain to release melatonin. It will also trigger your brain to shut off orexin which is something that helps keep us alert. The combination will have you winding down in no time.
Oats
Oats aren’t just for breakfast and making delicious cookies. Oats are rich in minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. This mixture helps promote the release of melatonin and increases insulin production. The increase in blood sugar and the muscle relaxing properties of melatonin will naturally help promote sleep.
Turkey
Ask anyone after eating a Thanksgiving meal how they feel after eating turkey. Turkey is known to contain tryptophan which is great for making you feel sleepy. Turkey is also a great snack before bed as the protein will help keep you feeling full and away from the pre-bed ice cream.
