Eight foods that can make or break your sleep

Friday, May 17, 2013 by: Sandeep Godiyal
Tags: sleep quality, foods to avoid, sleeping aids

(NaturalNews) It is a common "fact" that people who drink coffee before they sleep will find it hard to actually fall asleep, but drinking milk will help people to fall asleep a lot faster. The latter is common knowledge that has been passed on from the mouths of their mothers and passed on from generation to generation. However, unbeknownst to many, there are actually a lot of other foods that can help people sleep better. Read on to find out the different foods that could either help you have a peaceful night, as well as the ones that do not.

Foods to eat and not to eat

1) Almonds and walnuts. These nuts actually contain a lot of tryptophan, magnesium, and melatonin - a powerful trio that is known to be ideal for those who are looking for natural sleeping aids. Experts say that it is best to try and eat a handful about an hour or so before sleeping.

2) Grapefruit. This is one of the foods that people should steer clear of, as it contains acid. Nobody wants to be kept up all night because of heartburn. Grapefruits increase the acidity of the stomach, so it is expected that those who eat this before sleeping will have heartburn. If people do not want this to happen, it is best to stay away from grapefruit, as well as other citrus fruits or juices before going to bed.

3) Oatmeal. This food is mostly considered as breakfast fare, and many eat this only in the morning, but studies have shown that there are actually a lot of benefits from eating oatmeal before going to bed. Oatmeal has been found to be full of nutrients that help promote sleep, such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium.

4) Celery. Celery is listed as a healthy vegetable, but it is considered as one that should be avoided before going to bed. Why is that so? Celery is considered a natural diuretic, and if people do not want to wake up in the middle of the night just to urinate, it would be best to steer clear of this vegetable. Other natural diuretics that people should avoid include parsley and ginger.

5) Tart cherries and raspberries. It has been found that raspberries and tart cherries have melatonin, which is a popular sleep aid.

6) Fried and greasy food. People who have a high intake of fried, fatty, and greasy foods at night tend to have less productive sleep compared to those who do not. The stomach works twice as hard just to digest the oily foods, which could then make people experience heartburn or indigestion.

7) Bananas. Bananas contain a lot of magnesium and potassium. They also contain tryptophan, which is an amino acid found in turkey, another food source that is famous for helping people who wish to have better sleep.

8) Spicy foods. Spicy foods not only irritate your digestive system, but they can also have a huge impact on your sleep. Experts say that it is best to avoid eating spicy foods before sleeping.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/wellbeing/features/sleep-well/1/

http://healthyliving.msn.com

About the author:
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. He currently writing for insurancetips4u.co.

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