5 Foods That Help You Sleep

If you must leave midnight snack if you have trouble sleeping and you think hunger might be part of the problem? Here are five foods that can actually help you drift off:

One. Cherries. Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body's internal clock to regulate sleep. Researchers who tested tart cherries and found high levels of melatonin recommend eating them an hour before bedtime or before a trip when you want to sleep on the plane.

Two. Bananas. Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan, which is converted to 5-HTP in the brain. 5-HTP is converted to serotonin in the tower (relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.

Three. Toast. Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax and sleep.

Fort. Oatmeal. Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal triggers an increase in blood sugar, which triggers insulin production and release of brain chemicals that induce sleep. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid.

Five Hot milk. Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which is converted to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It is also rich in calcium, which promotes sleep.

Posted in: Healthy food