Life
12 Foods To Help You Sleep Better And Feel Less Exhausted When That Alarm Clock Goes Off
It's National Sleep Awareness Week, and whether you can't function without your zzz's or you've decided you'll catch up on them when you're older, there are probably nights when you wish you could just let your head hit the pillow and immediately pass out. Luckily for you, there are some foods that help you fall asleep quickly, which means you don't have to spend the early a.m. hours tossing and turning in your sheets when you've got a big day ahead. If you're over-caffeinated, suffering from insomnia, or just plain too excited, it's no matter, because snacking on any of these foods can help relax your body and send it to sleep. Get ready to hit the hay.
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Chamomile Tea
Sleepytime herbal tea is no joke. Chamomile, specifically, helps to relax your muscles and nerves, peacefully telling your body to chill.
Try: Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea, $8, Amazon
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Kale
It may surprise you to see kale on this list, but the calcium-rich food assists the brain in creating melatonin — a hormone that helps regulate the natural sleep cycle.
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Pretzels
Pretzels (and some chips!) will lead to a natural spike in your blood sugar, helping tryptophan to enter the brain and knock you out for the night.
Try: Snack Factory Original Pretzel Crisps, $13.99, Amazon
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Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a two-for-one, being both rich in melatonin and helpful in increasing your blood sugar. Just try to avoid sweet toppings if possible (chocolate chips… I’m talking about you).
Try: Bob’s Red Mill Organic Oatmeal, $4.39, Amazon
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Almonds
Not only are almonds one of the healthiest foods you can eat, they’re also high in tryptophan and melatonin, making for a perfect before bed snack.
Try: Wonderful Roasted and Salted Almonds, $4, Amazon
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Fish
Tuna, salmon, halibut… pick your fish and eat up. All of these under the sea creatures are high in vitamin B6, another great catalyst for producing melatonin.
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Tart Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice (no, not cherry juice cocktail) is rich in melatonin. Studies have even shown that people who suffer from insomnia have been able to sleep longer when they drink two glasses a day.
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Yogurt
Everyone knows that yogurt is rich in calcium, but everyone may not know that healthy amounts of calcium actually help one to get on a better sleeping schedule.
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Bananas
Not only are bananas rich in potassium (if you suffer from muscle cramps, these yellow guys are your savior!), but they’re also rich in vitamin B6, which is helpful in triggering melatonin production.
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Miso Soup
If you’re having trouble hitting the hay, warm up a small, simple bowl of miso soup to slurp down. It’s high in amino acids, which, you guessed it, boost melatonin levels.
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Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are filled with potassium, which relaxes the muscles, calms the nerves, and aids in blood circulation.
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Pineapples
Pineapple is pretty much a super fruit when it comes to raising melatonin levels. And you should know what that means by now…
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