Sometimes, getting better sleep is just a matter of eating the right foods and avoiding others. US News has rounded up foods that are naturally sleep-inducing and perfect for a late-night snack.
Picture: Lucia Sanchez/Flickr
Two fruits in particular may be worth stocking up on if you often have poor sleep: cherries and bananas. Cherries are one of the few natural sources of melatonin, which has been shown to improve sleep quality and duration. US News recommends a handful of cherries, juice or dried cherries an hour before bedtime.
If you don’t like the tart fruit, eat bananas a little earlier in the evening:
Bananas. Make them a daily staple. They’re packed with potassium and magnesium, nutrients that double as natural muscle relaxants. Plus, they contain the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan, which ultimately turns into serotonin and melatonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation; melatonin is a chemical that promotes sleepiness. It takes about an hour for tryptophan to reach the brain, so plan your snack accordingly.
The foods to avoid on the list are fairly obvious: caffeine, high-fat meals and alcohol.
Hit up the link below for even more foods to help you catch more Zzzz’s.
Comments
2 responses to “The Best (And Worst) Foods For A Good Night’s Sleep”
No wonder why I’m always sleepy in the mornings, I have a banana with my Weet-Bix each day!
It’s one thing for something to “contain” a chemical, but the dose is another. I think you’ll find to get a biologically relevant dose of tryptophan from bananas.. well, you wouldn’t be able to.