Almost nothing is more annoying than insomnia, especially if you have to wake up early the next morning and you just can’t sleep. The benefits of a good night’s sleep are enormous, as well as the drawbacks of a bad night’s sleep, or inadequate sleep.
Food is very important, the most important health promoter we have, and when it comes to good quality sleep, food has a lot to do.
There are many foods that you can eat before you go to bed that will either help or hinder your sleep habits.
BEST:
• Cherries
Cherries contain melatonin, the chemical that helps control our body’s internal clock.
• Milk
A glass of milk is helpful because it contains an essential amino acid called tryptophan. This chemical is then used to make serotonin, a brain chemical often linked with happiness.
• Jasmine rice
Jasmine rice ranks high on the glycemic index, meaning the body digests it slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the bloodstream.
• Fortified hot cereals
The good complex carbohydrates are generally good for sleep, and are paired well with milk. Other complex carbs are quinoa, barley, and buckwheat.
• Bananas
Bananas contain the natural muscle-relaxants magnesium and potassium, which help to promote sleep. They’re also carbs, which will help make you sleepy as well.
• Sweet potatoes
They provide sleep-promoting complex carbohydrates, and also contain that muscle-relaxing potassium.
WORST:
• Coffee, energy drinks, or any caffeinated drinks
The obvious culprit of sleep deprivation is caffeine, which is a central nervous stimulant.
• Dark chocolate
Chocolate contains not only calories, but caffeine, especially dark chocolate.
• Wine
Alcohol metabolizes quickly in your system and causes you to wake up multiple times during the night.
• Chicken
Any type of protein is going to be counterproductive if consumed at night, since it slows down your digestion.
• Spicy food
Acidic and spicy foods can cause reflux, heartburn, and other symptoms that interrupt sleep.
• Bacon Cheeseburger
The huge amount of fat in this type of “food” is guaranteed to be a sleep killer, it can cause heartburn, making the time you’d like to be sleeping much more uncomfortable.
