Author: Ivan Red Jr.
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
In this article, learn more about Foods That Help Sleep. What foods can we afford if we want to fall asleep quickly?.
Sometimes the temptation to eat at midnight on hot nights is too great. However, even if it is in moderation and without a feeling of heaviness, some foods prevent us from falling asleep. Chocolate, ketchup, spicy foods ... They all work against good sleep. Others do the exact opposite - they help us fall asleep.
Cherries are the first among them. Light and pleasant, whether fresh or dried, they are among the few foods that contain melatonin - the compound that controls the body's biological clock and regulates sleep. Not only will they not harm good sleep, but they will also enhance it.
Bananas would also help, but in a different way. Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants and are abundantly present in bananas. They also contain L-tryptophan , which is a precursor to melatonin .
Toasted slices are also good for sleep if they are without butter or margarine. The little fat in one or two slices is negligible and will not cause inconvenience, while carbohydrates will trigger a high dose of insulin , which will speed up sleep by releasing moderate doses of serotonin .
Oatmeal has a similar effect to toasted slices - it raises blood sugar, increasing the secretion of tryptophan and insulin. Oatmeal is also rich in melatonin, which is often taken in dosage form for insomnia.
The cliché in the genre - warm milk , is not a myth. It is also rich in L-tryptophan, but is best taken with a teaspoon of honey . But only one! More sugar can be too stimulating to fall asleep normally, but small amounts have a detrimental effect on the synthesis of orexin , a recently discovered neurotransmitter that is linked to alertness.
Whatever you resort to, take it ... in the dark . Avoid turning on lights, it is advisable to wait for your eyes to get used to the darkness. The secretion of melatonin depends on the intensity of the light perceived by the eyes. If you are exposed to bright light, there is a high probability that you will disrupt the cycle of your sleep, because the body has decided that it is already light and needs to wake up.