[eocavrWM]

Should you let yourself have that midnight snack if you're having trouble sleeping and you think hunger might be part of the problem? Here are five foods that can actually help you drift off:

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.

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 gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin.

Toast
Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production, which induces sleep. Bring on sleepiness by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep.

Oatmeal
Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal will trigger insulin production, raising blood sugar naturally and making you feel sleepy. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid.

Warm milk
Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It's also high in calcium, which promotes sleep.

Cheers!

[strmini]

Cool, thanks for the info. I've been having a hard time sleepin lately. Hopefully some of these will help.

[Efksqhyu]

It's nice to know that there are foods that can help us sleep. Although I have been drinking warm milk if I cannot sleep but I did not know that oatmeal, cherries, bananas, and toast are also remedies. Thanks for sharing

[mirvokrug]

Yeah it's really cool. Most of us already know about the warm milk but I was surprised to know that cherries and bananas can help too. Thanks!

[bumxumer]

I didn't actually know that there are other foods that we can eat to help us sleep. I read in an article that carbo and calcium rich foods, as well as medium to low in protein foods are great bedtime snacks to make us snooze . Some examples are whole-grain cereal with milk, apple pie and icecream, and oatmeal and raisin cookies with a glass of milk. Who would have thought that these healthy foods are also good in helping us sleep at night. So when you have trouble sleeping, have these foods with you. It's guilt free and delicious too

[VowJoyday]

It's nice and informative post to know that there are foods that can help us sleep.

[Patabeamn]

I agree that warm milk helps you sleep. It works for me every time.

[mirvokrug]

I read that drinking warm milk before bedtime doesn't really boost sleep-promoting serotonin. There was a research about it and it showed that milk and other foods containing tryptophan did not affect sleep patterns. Drinking warm liquid before you sleep helps produce sleepiness that's why warm milk or tea works for most people.

[bumxumer]

Oh yeah? That is the same with chamomile tea or other teas then?

[Efksqhyu]

There are times that I drink wine to help me sleep. I don't have a sleeping disorder or anything but if I get really stressed, I can't sleep well so I rely on wine or sometimes even beer.

[eocavrWM]

hi viktoria,

moderate intake of wine is good but not beer. so i think u should just stick to wine. cheers!

[Efksqhyu]

Thanks for the tip Stayhealthy. I'll do just that. Wine is indeed so much better compared to beer.

[Patabeamn]

Avoid heavy and spicy foods and foods with excessive fats for dinner. Eat lighter meals instead like a bowl of cereal. That should help you sleep.

[Efksqhyu]

Thanks kathy.. I appreciate the tips. I will try cherries the next time I'll have difficulty sleeping.