What should I eat before bed time for better sleep?

These days it’s hard to get the sleep we want and also trying to figure out dietary needs to help you sleep better can be hard some days. With busy schedules these days a lot people may forgo sleep and also choose fast food to get through the days. The only problem is when choosing the wrong food it can doom your path to sleep. By making some healthy changes and choices in diet you can help get yourself back on the path to a goodnight’s sleep. Here are some foods to help get you started on this path.

Bananas

This is a great food packed with vitamins but can also help induce sleep when eaten close to bed time. Experts say that consuming the right food before going to bed that are high in minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, vitamin B, and tryptophan, have a natural sleep inducing effect, helping to relieve insomnia. Give it a try tonight.

Complex carbohydrates

Try some of these great food like whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, crackers and brown rice. Avoid simple carbohydrates, including cookies, cakes, pastries and other sugary foods. These tend to reduce serotonin levels and do not promote sleep.

Beverages

Certain drinks can help you fall asleep faster also. A beverage before bed like hot tea herbal tea such as chamomile or peppermint can help you fall asleep faster. Make sure the beverage does not have caffeine in it as this can have the opposite affect and can keep you up. A good rule of thumb is to not have any caffeinated beverages after 2 pm. Warm milk is also another beverage to try, just like your mother had advised.

In addition to giving us nourishment, the things we eat and drink can pick us up or slow us down. Knowing how food and beverages affect the body can help keep you alert during the day and avoid the agony of sleeplessness at night. Give these foods a try to reduce your tossing and turning when you hit the pillow. Happy sleeping!

This website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Live & Sleep is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this website. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health.