If you're tossing an turning in your bed, don't reach for the NyQuil. There are some great sleep aids available to you right in your kitchen! Try some of these foods for the perfect nighttime snack that will help you get to dreamland.
Bananas
Bananas are not only healthy for you, but they are full of melatonin and serotonin, to help soothe you to sleep. They also contain magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant. They are often inexpensive, so next time you are having a hard time sleeping, try eating a banana before bed.
Fish
Fish is rich in vitamin B6. B6 is needed to make melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. Eat some salmon, tuna, or halibut for dinner, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
Whole Grain Bread
Instead of having toast with breakfast, try eating it before bed. It will help release insulin in your body, which helps tryptophan get to your brain. The tryptophan is then converted to serotonin and helps soothe you to sleep.
Warm Milk
A traditional staple for people to drink before bed actually does help you sleep better at night. Milk contains some tryptophan and calcium, which helps the brain use the tryptophan. There is also the psychological aspect from when you were an infant, and a warm bottle of milk would relax you to sleep.
Turkey
There is a reason why you are always ready for a nap after Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey is full of tryptophan, helping induce sleep. Put that turkey on some whole grain bread, and you have a sandwich ready to lull you off to sleep.
Almonds
Almonds are not only delicious and good for you, but a handful of them before bed can help you get a better night’s sleep. Almonds are heart healthy, and contain both tryptophan and magnesium. Smear a little almond butter on your banana, for a delicious snack that will help you get to dreamland in no time.
Oatmeal
If you have the late night munchies, oatmeal is healthy and filling. Plus it is full of melatonin, to help you get to sleep on a nicely full stomach. Add a little honey and warm milk to make it a healthy, late night snack, which will also help you get some zzz’s.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a classic drink for people to have before bed. There is a good reason for it too. The tea blend has a mild sedating effect and is a natural way for our restless minds and bodies to relax.
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a perfect source of protein to eat before bed, because it contains casein proteins that are slow to digest, thus distributing amino acids to your muscles for hours. It also contains good old tryptophan, to help induce sleep. You will stay satisfied all evening, and enjoy a great night’s sleep after eating a little cottage cheese before bed.
Grapes
Grapes have melatonin, and by eating them regularly, you will boost the natural amount of melatonin in your body. The more melatonin you have, the faster you can get to sleep each night. Eat a few grapes with your cottage cheese before bed, for a great, sleep inducing snack.
Potatoes
Potato can help clear away acids that interfere with tryptophan. Eat some potatoes, with other sleep-inducing foods, and it will help them work better and faster. Add warm milk to your potatoes, to really boost the sleep-inducing effects of the versatile potato.