8 Foods for Better Sleep

Amy Taylor December 17, 2014

If midnight hunger is preventing you from falling asleep, or if you’re just into something to eat before jumping into bed, there are great snacking options that won’t make you feel guilty. Not only that, these foods can actually enhance your sleep! Yes!

Cherries

New research presented at the Experimental Biology 2014 meeting finds drinking tart cherry juice twice a day can help you sleep nearly 90 more minutes a night. According to the researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Centre at LSU, juice is a natural source of the sleep-wake cycle hormone melatonin and amino acid tryptophan.

Almonds

Ditch those calorie-dense crisps and enjoy a handful of almonds instead. These delicious, crunchy nuts is a great source of magnesium which promotes relaxation. It also contains high levels of protein which keeps blood sugar levels even throughout the night.

Cheese

Oh yes, cheese. Of all dairy products, cheese is a rich source of calcium, which regulates your stress levels and increase your body’s production of melatonin – the sleep hormone. And since there are many, many varieties of cheese, you can try a different one each night! But don’t overdo your cheese intake. Go for a few small cubes, or two or three slices of cheese on whole-wheat crackers.

Bananas

Banana is a perfect midnight snack if you’re looking for something fulfilling yet low in calories. This sweet fruit packs a punch of magnesium and potassium which all relax muscles and promote restful sleep. Wait, there’s more! Bananas are also a rich source of tryptophan which is a natural sleep booster.

Lettuce

You may not like the idea of having a vegetable salad for midnight snack but it is actually a good one. Lettuce – a key salad ingredient – is rich in lactucarium which has sleep-enhancing and pain-relieving properties. What’s more, it has the ability to promote relaxation as well.

Hummus

A few teaspoons of humus on whole-wheat cracker can fill you up at a low calorie count. This Mediterranean favourite contains tryptophan and other sleep-enhancing hormones that soothe any acid reflux – a common trigger for insomnia.

Jasmine Rice

This specific type of rice is a high-glycaemic food. Meaning, it releases glucose into your bloodstream at a slow, steady pace. This keeps your brain fuelled for the night. Jasmine rice also boosts levels of tryptophan and serotonin, both important for restful sleep.

Walnuts

Apart from almonds, walnuts are great midnight snack options too. These delish nuts are loaded with tryptophan and melatonin which are all crucial for a restful slumber. It satisfies your craving too for something crunchy and tasty!

Honey

The sugar in honey raises insulin slightly, allowing tryptophan to more easily enter the brain and induce sleep. Just a tablespoon of honey is enough to make a difference! If you can’t eat it as it is, consider spreading honey on whole-wheat cracker.

Try any of this foods tonight and tell us what you felt!