Foods That Help You Sleep

webmd.boots.com:

If you could pick the right foods to help you get the best sleep possible, you would, wouldn't you? If you knew which foods would hinder your restful slumber, wouldn't you avoid them? Now's your chance to learn which foods to eat and which to steer clear of for a good night's sleep.

Read the whole story: webmd.boots.com

Comments

[french queen13]

10:45 PM on 02/05/2011

For me the main thing is not to feel empty; that's guaranteed to keep me awake or wake me during the night. I don't drink coffee at home, but I will have a cup of hot chocolate, or a chunk of cheese, or a couple of dark-chocolate coated biscuits. Bananas are out of the equation now - they're simply too expensive after the Queensland floods and now Cyclone Yasi destroyed the banana plantations. (Come to that, biscuits will be out of budget for the same reason - goodbye sugar cane.)

[atl50]

07:43 PM on 02/04/2011

I like a plate of nachoes in bed, followed by a bowl of ice cream then a couple of those chocolate wafer bars.

[Genders]

04:09 PM on 02/04/2011

I take melatonin, seems to work fine. I also turn down the lighting and turn the music or TV volume down near bedtime.

[peterghansonmd]

04:52 PM on 02/02/2011

good post. Not all insomnia is caused by the lack of a brand name drug. Taking control of the controllable is a better place to start. That means looking carefully at our food choices, as well as the timing of our eating habits. Late night protein snacks, and even an alcoholic hot beverage can be a catastrophe for your sleep. Most of my medical patients tell me they felt more in control when they read the blog on the Father of Insomnia, none other than the great inventor Thomas Edison. http://stressworksinc.com/Blog/post/Insomnia-Is-It-Worth-Losing-Sleep-Over.aspx

[shthar]

10:13 PM on 02/01/2011

heroin...

[GirlUsingBrain]

05:40 PM on 02/04/2011

Never tried it but I doubt if it encourages REM sleep; i.e., you wake feeling as if you never slept.

[ApolloniusofTyana]

09:25 PM on 02/01/2011

Some of that advice was stupid, I don't care what title the writer may have. Drs are often wrong.

I don't drink milk at night, or ever, no thanks! I can do without the crackers and carbs too.

I agree on spices and heavy protein late in day. I try and load up early, mid morning, and taper off slowly the rest of the day.

Skip the carbs, and use a quality brand of melatonin. Melatonin is natural and perfectly safe. Your body makes it naturally to assist proper and healthy sleep in the pineal gland. Your body does not have a gland to make tryptophan to help you sleep.

Don't fight nature! :)

[spitfiredd]

01:41 PM on 02/02/2011

Your argument makes sense, you say "don't fight nature" yet advocate taking artificial melatonin? Your body produces it's own melatonin from eating carbs so why not just have a carb heavy dinner at night so you body produces it's own melatonin?

Here's another though, your brain runs almost exclusively on glucose so maybe you need to reconsider you position on carbs....

[ApolloniusofTyana]

12:03 AM on 02/04/2011

You don't know much about this I can tell.

Melatonin is naturally produced in the pineal gland about when the sun goes down. Modern lifestyles don't exactly lead to people going into the cave and sleeping right then any more. Melatonin is not "artificial," it is natural. Taking some at bedtime is healthy. My doctor insists on it, and he's a good doctor.

I don't understand what you mean by this being caused by carbs. You better find a medical reference for that. Good luck.

I turned my health around a great deal when I stopped listening to idiots pushing carbs on me. Everyone is not the same, but I won't make those mistakes again. You do what you want. I will do what I know works for me. Thank you.

[GirlUsingBrain]

05:39 PM on 02/04/2011

Different things work for different people.

I awakened with a "drug hangover" when I tried Melatonin and I did not like it at all! I have a cup of Sleepytime Tea or Chamomille Tea about an hour before I go to bed.

I think it is also important to keep one's sleeping environment conducive for sleeping. My bedroom is my sanctuary. It is comfortable and soothing ... very importantly, there is no TV. I also make sure the temperature is cool ... a good snuggling temperature.