It’s okay to miss out on a good night’s sleep every once in while – sometimes life just gets in the way! But, chronic, long-term lack of sleep increases your risks of diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, and even weight gain. If you’re getting less than 6 hours of sleep more often than not, it’s time to take action…with food!
Eating a big, heavy meal right before climbing into bed will likely disturb your sleep (and make you uncomfortable). However, some foods can actually help you fall asleep, increase the quality of sleep, and help you wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
Forget the usual late night snacks, including ice cream, cookies, and other sugary desserts. Consuming too much sugar before bed will not only disturb sleep, it’s also not exactly great for your waistline. The same goes for alcohol; a glass of wine may make you feel relaxed and a little sleepy after dinner, but if you’re having trouble sleeping, you want to avoid drinking alcohol before bed. Over time, alcohol-induced sleep becomes lest restful, causing you to toss and turn throughout the night, leading to more sleep issues down the road.
The ideal bedtime snack has a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and tryptophan, an amino acid that converts to sleep-promoting serotonin in the body.
Try eating a half-cup of cottage cheese with bananas, a glass of milk and graham crackers, or Greek yogurt topped with low-sugar cereal or fruit. Keep bedtime snacks under 200 calories and within your caloric requirements!
Related:
Eating Before Bed – A Diet Downfall or Not So Bad?
Lack of Sleep Linked to Higher Risk of Stroke
