If you suffer from insomnia there are many sleeping pills and natural sleeping remedies that can help you get a good night sleep. However, sleeping pills can often cause unwanted and unpleasant side effects whilst natural herbal sleeping remedies can be costly and hard to find.
So for those who are after a good night sleep but don’t want to use sleeping pills or herbal remedies, there are many food products you can try. Caffeine rich products such as coffee and sweets are well known for keeping people awake but it is less known what food products help as a sleep aid.
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Top Foods That Help You Sleep
Just as Caffeine rich products have a negative impact on sleep, Magnesium, Calcium and Tryptophan rich food products have a positive effect. Magnesium and Calcium based products are a good sleep food as they relax nerves and muscles and if the body is relaxed it is easier to sleep. Meanwhile, Tryptophan is a precursor of the main sleep inducing chemicals in the brain; Serotonin and Melatonin. Here are some foods that can help you sleep:
Bananas
Not only are bananas healthy and yummy they are also rich in both Magnesium and Tryptophan. A banana half an hour before bed time could be the answer to your sleep problems.
Milk
A glass of milk contains a large amount of Calcium which can help induce a sound sleep (as long as you’re not lactose intolerant!).
Almonds
A handful of almonds has a healthy dose of both Tryptophan and Magnesium making them the perfect snack before bed time.
Potatoes
A small baked potato or portion of mash will help clear the body of acids that block Tryptophan meaning they will help you enjoy a great night’s sleep.
Oatmeal
This is a double whammy as oats contain Melatonin and if made with milk a bowl of oatmeal also has a good dose of Calcium.
Turkey
It’s no coincidence that most people feel sleepy after Christmas dinner as Turkey is rich in sleep inducing Tryptophan.
Cherries
Cherries are a great food for sleep as they are rich in Melatonin and of course a very tasty snack.
Food For Sleep
All of these foods are full of sleep inducing chemicals, are completely natural and are good for the body. To see the maximum impact of these foods for sleep, make them part of your regular diet. Eaten regularly and over a long period these sleep inducing foods will help regulate the body and help you develop a regular sleeping pattern.
Before using unnatural sleeping pills or expensive herbal remedies why not try some or all of these food products. Alternatively, if you can’t see anything on this list that tickles your taste buds, just look out for any other foods that are rich in Magnesium, Tryptophan or Calcium.
Sources:
- Sleep Aid Centre – 10 Power Foods That Help You Sleep Better
- Ask Dr Sears – Food For Sleep
