There is nothing quite as satisfying as slipping into an unexpected coma after a hefty feast. By coma I mean nap and by feast I mean irresponsibly stuffing your face. Unfortunately, if you care at all about things like body composition and health, overeating before going to bed isn’t a good choice.
People have problems dozing off for a myriad of reasons. It’s one of those things that can be affected by your mental or physical situation. People who have sleep apnea can’t even stay asleep for the entire night!
Luckily choosing the right foods to snack on near the end of your day can really help. Here are 5 foods that will help you catch those ever-elusive Z’s.
1. Bananas
Cheap, portable and delicious, bananas are an excellent way to quickly sneak in a snack before bed. They contain tryptophan, which in turn results in melatonin and serotonin. These hormones are both linked with sleeping.
They also contain potassium and magnesium. These will loosen up your body after a stressful day.
2. Cherries
In addition to being bite sized, cherries are perfect for adding to a shake with something like the previous mention, bananas. They’re yet another way to get more melatonin in your system.
Melatonin controls your sleep / wake cycle and this tiny snack is great for regulating it.
3. Yogurt
Keeping with the theme, this is another food that is easy to mix and match. Delicious and nutritious, the calcium in yogurt will help you nod off easier. The tryptophan inside yogurt is actually also found in milk. This is why you hear people recommending warm milk.
The bonus is that yogurt is easier to process and well, isn’t warm milk.
4. Oatmeal
Yeah, we’re living on the edge. Breakfast before bed. Oatmeal is a great way to get to bed. It’s loaded with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium – mentioned previously for their great sleep-inducing properties.
The key here is not overdoing it with something pre-made. Anything low on sugar, like say, just the oats is great. If you don’t want to offend and possibly ruin your taste buds, consider combining oats with any of the above picks.
5. Almonds
It was tempting to throw turkey into the final spot but the jury’s still out on that one so it’s best to go with a more solid choice. Almonds contain tryptophan and magnesium, which will help get you ready for bed.
The other reason they’re great though is because of their protein. Your body has no choice but to start digesting. If you’re high-strung and on edge these crunchy treats will help you slow down and hopefully sneak in a few winks.
If you’re still having problems, don’t panic. It can be easy to jump to conclusions of insomnia but odds are, you just need a second opinion.
