Insomnia and sleeping problems can occur at any stage of your life but are more common if you’re going through a particularly stressful period. When you’re stressed, a good sleep pattern is the first to go and often the last to return when your situation improves. The longer it goes on, the more you feel like you’ll never sleep properly again.
Rather than seeking medical help, you may want to consider a more natural remedy. Here are five foods that contain the properties to help you regain restful sleep.
The Reishi Mushroom
Using the Reishi mushroom for sleep problems isn’t as crazy as it sounds. This rare fungus contains many properties that help relax the mind and alleviate stress. Reishi is a reddish-brown mushroom that grows at the base of deciduous trees. Because of their tough, wood texture, the human body cannot break them down, so the best way to ingest Reishi is through powder or liquid form, combined with food to incorporate into your diet. An alternative method is to use the mushroom itself in tea. Reishi is a non-drowsy compound and can therefore be taken at any time of the day.
Kiwi
As well as containing plenty of vitamins and minerals, Kiwifruit also consists of antioxidants and serotonin, with the latter playing a huge part in regulating mood and sleep. Research has found that eating Kiwifruit an hour before going to bed helped people to fall asleep faster and experienced a better quality of sleep. In some cases, it has led to sleeping more than usual
Turkey
Have you ever felt tired after a thanksgiving or Christmas meal? That may be down to the turkey. This delicious meat has several properties that could be the reason why people become tired after eating it. Turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that increases the body’s production of melatonin. It also contains a healthy level of protein and consuming turkey before bed has been attributed to a better quality of sleep whilst also preventing less waking through the night.
Fatty Fish
Fish is well known to be rich in Omega 3 which, as well as the rest of your body, is good for your heart. Salmon, mackerel and tuna are three types of fish that contain omega 3 and vitamin D, as well as melatonin and serotonin, which not only help improve your sleep but improve your ability to function during the day. In Japan, grilled fish is eaten as part of a typical breakfast.
Your Sleep Is Important
Getting enough quality sleep is vital for both your physical and mental health and including certain foods in your diet can help you gain a good sleep pattern. Foods that contain melatonin and serotonin regulate the chemicals in your brain. Together with antioxidants and nutrients, these can enhance your sleep pattern by helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night, resulting in better quality rest.
To take full advantage of the sleep-enhancing properties of these foods, it is best to consume between 2-3 hours before bedtime to allow digestion and absorption of the nutrients. This will also prevent digestive issues, like heartburn or acid reflux that may occur if taken immediately before going to bed.
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