Having Trouble Sleeping? Eat These 3 Foods

Many people find getting a good night’s sleep difficult, and having a snack before bed may help if you are one of them. It is vital, however, to choose the right snack because salty, fatty or spicy foods can keep you awake. If you are having trouble relaxing and sleeping, try these foods.

Almonds

Eating about 23 almonds before bed can signal your brain that it is time to calm down. Those nuts give men 25% and women 31% of their daily manganese needs. Almonds help the body make GABA, which helps promote calmness, reduces anxiety, stabilizes blood pressure and promotes restful sleep. Almonds are also a good source of melatonin, helping your body’s internal clock work right so your body knows when it is time to sleep.

Turkey

Eating a piece of turkey about the size of a deck of cards can help you get a good night’s sleep because it contains the amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid is essential for your body to produce serotonin, which helps to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Serotonin can also help you feel happier so you drift off to sleep with positive thoughts. Furthermore, turkey is also a great source of melatonin.

Kiwi

Participants in a study who ate two kiwis before going to sleep fell asleep 41% faster than those who did not. Kiwi is an excellent source of serotonin. Furthermore, if you are having trouble sleeping because of inflammation, eating kiwi may help reduce the amount of swelling in your body. Scientists are unsure why, but people eating kiwis before bed also stay asleep longer.

Eating these foods may help you get a good night’s sleep, but sometimes it is not enough. In that case, we invite you to schedule an appointment with any of the psychiatrists at ABC. As trained medical doctors specializing in how the brain works, they can help you figure out what is causing your insomnia and help you get a great night’s sleep, regardless of whether the issue is physical or mental. Your mental health is vital to your overall well-being.