Nom on These Foods for Better Sleep
Have you had difficulty getting a good night’s rest? Poor quality of sleep can drastically affect your quality of life. Studies have found that poor sleep is associated with a wide range of negative impacts, including decreased performance and increased disease risks.
It has been long established that certain foods affect sleep quality. Notably, caffeine has taken center stage as the poster food/drug that affects sleep quality. However, getting a good night’s rest is more than just avoiding caffeine. Did you know there are actually certain foods that can improve your quality of sleep? Here are some of the foods that you might want to consider purchasing on your next visit to the market.
1. Nuts
Specifically, you’d want to have walnuts and almonds. These nuts contain melatonin, the so-called “sleep hormone” which regulates your sleep and wake cycle. Melatonin levels typically rise in the evenings, causing you to feel sleepier. Ingesting these nuts will help increase the levels of melatonin in your bloodstream, thereby improving your quality of sleep
2. Cheese
Cheese contains tryptophan, an amino acid that has been found to promote sleep. Notably, tryptophan is the pre-cursor to serotonin – the neurotransmitter that not only induces sleep, but also contributes feelings of well-being and happiness.
3. Fruits
We all know this saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” However, did you know that apples could also help improve your sleep? Certain fruits, like cherries and bananas, naturally contain the “sleep hormone”, melatonin, which can help promote sleep. Not only do they improve your sleep, they also generally improve your health as well as fruits are packed with all sorts of nutrients like fibre and vitamins!
Do note that these foods are by no means miracle foods! Apart from eating these, you should also exercise better sleep hygiene. Notably, as the body’s restoration typically takes place after 11pm, it would be best if you could get to bed before 11pm. Supplemented with these foods, you should be well on your way to a restorative, restful slumber!