Foods To Eat Before Bedtime For Better Sleep

Know about a few of the best sleep-inducing foods that you can eat before hitting the bed. Check them out.

By Sripriya Satish

Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 17:31

A good night's sleep plays an integral role in our everyday life. The day's activities can be carried on with total ease only when we get a peaceful rest during the night.

Also, there is a betterment of clarity of thoughts and quicker reflexes. Certain researches indicate that the quality of sleep is, indeed, directly related to the food we eat before bedtime.

Certain foods can be categorized as "sleep inducers" while there are other foods that can be put under the category of "sleep stealers".

Sleep inducing-foods are very much recommended to have at bedtime since they can promote an effortless good night's sleep.

Of course, though there are numerous medications which are available in the pharmacies that claim to induce that much-needed shut eye, it is still better to resort to the incredible natural gifts offered by Mother Nature.

This article deals with the best foods to munch away just before bedtime to get better sleep.

Cereals:

Cereals can form an excellent snack prior to sleep. Let us see why! Whole grain cereals combined with skimmed milk is a good source of calcium as well as carbohydrates. These nutrients can promote a good sleep without overloading the stomach and yet inducing a feeling of fullness throughout the night.

Almonds:

Almonds contain just the right nutrients to get quality sleep. They are loaded with tryptophan and magnesium which help to naturally reduce the nerve and muscle function for that much needed rest. They are also excellent for the heart to work in a steady and smooth rhythm while we sleep.

Spinach:

Spinach is an excellent sleep inducer. Apart from being the powerhouse of the essential nutrients like folate, magnesium and vitamins like B6 and C, they are also a natural source of an amino acid called glutamine which contributes to a great extent for a peaceful sleep.

Whole Grains:

Whole grain foods like whole wheat crackers, beans and whole grain pastas are also very good sleep inducers. They help us gain quality sleep by boosting the relaxation hormones like serotonin. Magnesium is also found in abundance in the whole grains which helps us to relax the muscles.

Banana:

Being an excellent source of sleep-inducing nutrients like potassium and magnesium, they are also rich in tryptophan which plays an important role in regulating the sleep hormones like serotonin and melatonin. So next time when you would like to have a snack before bedtime go for the bananas and we are sure that you will have a sound sleep.

Honey:

Having even a little honey before bedtime can work wonders for you for a relaxed night's rest. Want to know how? Then read on! Honey relaxes the body by stimulating the release of melatonin and curbing the release of the hormone orexin which keeps the brain alert. Thus just one spoon of honey will make us fall fast asleep.

Oats:

Oats, popularly known as a breakfast meal, is also good as a night time snack. They contain complex carbohydrates which take time to digest and thus make us feel full throughout the night. Needless to say, they are very good in inducing sleep as they stimulate serotonin and melatonin.

Sweet Potato:

Sweet potatoes can be regarded as the first choice that can be chosen to get an excellent sleep. Not only do they have sleep-promoting complex carbohydrates, they are also rich in potassium which is excellent in muscle relaxation.

Warm Glass Of Milk:

From the time we were kids we would have frequently been told to have a warm glass of milk before bedtime. Actually, this is a wonderful way of promoting sleep. Let us tell you how! Calcium is found in abundance in the dairy products which help the brain to stimulate the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Excess secretion of melatonin will naturally pave way for a nice sleep.