Everybody loves a late night snack and we all love to eat! It’s super common to have a nice day at work, clock out and pop on a movie to relax then eat some food or a late night dinner then sleep. What you probably didn’t know is that there are foods to eat before you sleep that will help improve your sleep. So next time you decide to turn on a show and get some rest you can be more conscious about what to eat!
Foods to help you sleep
- Almonds
Almonds might as well be called a superfood. They have many health benefits as well as an excellent source of nutrients such as a healthy amount of monounsaturated fat, fiber and antioxidants. Studies have shown eating almonds regularly help with a few chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you want to eat almonds before bed don’t eat more than a handful and you should be set.
- Turkey
A meat high in protein, turkey is a great source for vitamins and minerals. Your body needs to recover from the damage taken throughout the work day so giving your body the proper protein will help with adequate recovery. Turkey has about 4 grams of protein per ounce and gives you that tiredness feeling you have like after eating a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner! So if you’re looking for higher quality sleep, turkey is a great way to go.
- Chamomile Tea
Is a drink considered food? We think so. This tea is great for boosting your immune system, reducing anxiety as well as depression. Specifically chamomile tea, it contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to certain receptors in your brain that promote sleepiness and helps reduce insomnia. If you don’t want to fill your body up with calories, drinking tea is a great solution!
- Kiwis
Have a sweet tooth? Kiwis is a great fruit to eat before bed and arguably the best thing that you can eat before you sleep. The sleep fruit has certain levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate your sleep cycle. It also has antioxidants such as vitamin C and carotenoids that can help promote better sleep. Kiwis are known for having anti-inflammatory components as well as a great source of fiber to give you a full feeling in your stomach. Try eating 1 to 2 kiwis before you sleep and see how it helps!
- Fish Oils or Fish
Fish in general is super healthy for you, probably one of the cleanest white meats that you can consume. With high contents of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids fish is proven to help with inflammation and boosting overall mood. And not to mention the protein, it might as well be called the superfood of the sea! Fish has been shown to increase production of serotonin and may help you with overall quality of sleep. Try having a small serving (3 to 4 ounces) of fish before you sleep and improve your sleep.
Conclusion
There are plenty of healthy foods to snack on to improve overall health. Studies have shown that there are foods as well as tea to consume before you sleep to help produce brain chemicals that will result in promoting higher quality and faster sleep. If you are a big time snacker as most of us are in our own way, grab a handful of almonds or try some fruit like kiwi before you sleep!
