Finding it difficult to get to sleep at night? You’re not alone; from finding it difficult to get to sleep, stay asleep or just get to bed at a reasonable hour, plenty of us are losing out on those all important Zs. But eating the right foods in the hours before you hit the sack may help you fall asleep faster, not to mention improve the quality of your sleep. Which means it’s DEFINITELY time to add these to your grocery list...
Cherries
Cherries are
one of the only natural sources of melatonin, the chemical that
controls the body’s internal clock to regulate sleep. Which means that
munching on them fresh, frozen, dried or juiced is a good way to sort
your sleeping patterns out and bag yourself a great night of snoozing.
Oatmeal
Warming up a bowl of oatmeal as a
pre-bedtime snack is a great way to help yourself nod off. Easy to
prepare, it's rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and
potassium - all of which are known to help boost the quality of your
sleep. Throw in some vitamin B6 (guaranteed to reduce stress) and you’re
sorted!
Warm milk
Remember when you used to take a glass of warm milk up to bed with you? Turns out that was a great way to boost sleep.
Calcium is effective in stress reduction and stabilization of nerve fibers, including those in the brain, and the warmth is a definite soother
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or spoonful of honey to yours for maximum effect.
Almonds
These clever little nuts are high in
magnesium, which helps to promote both sleep and muscle relaxation. But,
better than that, diet experts claim almonds promote sleep by switching
you from your alert adrenaline cycle to your rest-and-digest cycle. A
small handful at night is the perfect way to help you unwind before bed.
Green tea
Obviously we’re talking the decaf
variety here, but green tea contains theanine, which is proven to help
promote a great night’s sleep. Enjoy a cup late at night to help your
body get ready for switch off time.