Tuesday, October 7, 2014

8 Foods That Treat Insomnia

8 Foods That Treat Insomnia
Recent research has proved that patients who rely on sleeping pills, such as Lunesta or Ambien, are at a greater risk of developing cancer or dying sooner for different not less serious health issues.
Although some sleeping aids might be relatively harmless, you are strongly advised to try natural means first. Chemicals that make up most of the sleeping pills need further research and study since their influence on the human body and health hasn’t yet been fully explained. The list below consists of 8 foods that can fight sleeplessness in a safe yet effective way.

1. Honey
A couple of tea spoons of honey with a glass of warm milk or a cup of herb tea consumed an hour before bedtime will help you relax and prepare for sleep. Honey reduces alertness and helps to calm down.
2. Bananas
Bananas are a good source of potassium. This mineral plays an important role in how deep your sleep will be tonight. Tryptophan and magnesium that bananas are rich in provide a sedative effect. Skip pills and eat a banana instead.

Nuts increase the level of serotonin, the hormone that the brain produces when we feel happy and satisfied. They also contain tryptophan and magnesium and 10-15 nuts or a handful of seeds will be enough to get a deep night’s sleep.

4. Yogurt
Just like all milk products, yogurt is rich in calcium. This mineral is needed for increasing the level of tryptophan and melatonin, the two hormones that have a sleep-inducing effect. Eat some of this product in the evening to see how effective it is.

5. Cherries
Cherries are known to be another food that can invoke sleepiness. The reason is melatonin that these berries are rich in. Drinking cherry juice or eating cherries may provide a good night’s sleep.

6. Herbal Tea
Drink herbal teas. Black and green teas contain caffeine hence they should be avoided at night. Chamomile tea has long been used by herbalists to treat nervousness and insomnia. Have a cup of chamomile or mint tea before you go to bed.

7. Grapes
Grapes, just like cherries, are also high in melatonin. This hormone helps us control our sleep-wake cycle. Wines that are made from some certain varieties of grapes may contain quite high levels of melatonin, but alcohol should be avoided because it makes it harder to fall asleep. That’s why it will be better if, instead of a glass of wine, you will eat fresh grapes.

8. Eggs
Tryptophan is an amino acid. It can be found in quite a few foods. One of such products would be eggs. Have a snack of a poached or hard-boiled egg alongside veggies a couple of hours before bedtime.

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