We all have been there, experiencing a longing desire for a snack before bed. Wondering what are the options of delicious and healthy snacks that will not mess your sleep routine? Turns out, there are a handful of options to choose from!
- Walnuts
Walnuts are a great source of tryptophan. Tryptophan is a sleep enhancing amino-acid that helps make serotonin and melatonin, the hormone which regulates your sleep-wake cycle. Grab a handful of walnuts just before bed and you will doze off before you know it!
- Cereal
Who said you couldn’t have breakfast for a bedtime snack? The combination of carbohydrates from the cereal and calcium from the milk will almost guarantee to get you to bed. The presence of carbs will boost tryptophan in the brain while calcium will help the brain use tryptophan to manufacture the sleep inducing substance melatonin.
- Chamomile Tea
A hot cup of warm goodness is the perfect goodnight drink. Drinking chamomile tea will increase glycine, a chemical that will relax your nerves and muscles which will stimulate sleepiness.
- Cheese and Crackers
While any dairy product can help induce sleepiness, cheese and crackers are almost everyone’s favourite snack. Calcium helps the brain use tryptophan found in dairy to produce melatonin and also controls muscle movement.
- Kiwi
Not only is it a low calorie and nutritious fruit, kiwis are beneficial to your digestive health as they reduce inflammation and lower your cholesterol. Additionally, the antioxidants in kiwis will make you fall asleep quicker.
- Pretzels
Consume a few dozen of these delicious treats before bed and it will make you fervently look for your pillow. Pretzels will increase the blood sugar and insulin levels which will then in turn help tryptophan enter your brain.
- Tart Cherry Juice
The more tart your cherries are, the better it will be to help you sleep. Cherries are jam packed with nutrients and can also help with insomnia. Tart cherries will boost your melatonin levels and improve your sleep.
- Pistachios
These tiny green snacks contain all of the sleep inducing nutrients. They are filled with protein, vitamin B6 and magnesium.
- Honey
According to nutritionist Lindsey Duncan on DrOz.com , the natural sugar found in honey slightly raises insulin and allows tryptophan to enter the brain more easily. Mix honey in with your chamomile tea to ensure a good night’s sleep.
- Lettuce
A salad bowl for dinner will be the perfect food to induce sleepiness. Lettuce contains lactucarium, which has sedative properties and relaxes the brain.
- Hummus
Chickpeas are a great source of tryptophan. If you are one the lookout for a light and healthy bedtime snack, try hummus with some whole grain crackers.
These snacks might help you get a better night’s sleep but what if something else is the cause of your tired mornings? All the snacks in the world might not be of help if you are sleeping with a snorer. Try out Smart Nora, the contact-free and comfortable snoring solution that will bring you the rest you deserve.