If you’re having difficulty sleeping, you are certainly not alone! According to American Academy of Sleep Medicine statistics for 2014, thirty to thirty-five percent of USA citizens suffer from short-term bouts of insomnia. Ten percent deal with insomnia on a regular basis.
In order to access the deep and healing rest that you need, you must educate yourself. There are a variety of ways to improve the quality and duration of sleep, one of which is eating sleep-inducing foods.
To help you get the inside scoop on which foods are world-renowned for promoting better sleep, we’ve created a practical guideline…
Add Fish to Your Weekly Diet
Certain types of fish, such as salmon, tuna and halibut, contain Vitamin B6, which is one of the building blocks of a sleep-promoting hormone known as melatonin. When you add fish to your weekly diet, you’ll access a treasure trove of nutrition and you may find that it’s much easier to fall asleep at night!
If you’re not fond of fish, choosing a fish oil supplement which is rich in essential fatty acids will help you to enjoy the benefits of fish, without the fishy taste.
Have a Glass of Tart Cherry Juice
Get the melatonin that you need in order to fall asleep by enjoying a glass of tart cherry juice. This time-honoured treatment for insomnia is a favorite of those who suffer from chronic sleeplessness and it may work wonders for you, too!
Since this juice is loaded with natural melatonin, it’s a great choice for an evening beverage.
Enjoy Natural and Organic Yogurt
Keeping calcium levels high will be a great way to promote stellar sleep, so adding natural and organic yogurt to your daily diet is recommended. It’s best to stay away from yogurts with a lot of sugar and additives. Stick to purer formulas which offer plenty of calcium, without any unhealthy ingredients.
Half a cup to one cup of yogurt per day will optimize your body’s calcium levels. When you get enough calcium, this important mineral will be utilized in order to assist the brain with creating an amino acid, Tryptophan. Tryptophan is used by the human body in order to produce sleep-inducing melatonin.
Get Magnesium from Whole Grains
Magnesium is known as the “relaxation mineral” and it’s found in an assortment of whole grains, including barley and bulgur. If you’re not getting enough Magnesium, you may find it difficult to stay asleep for longer periods of time.
While it is possible to get Magnesium from a supplement, whole grains are an excellent way to get this mineral via your daily diet. As well, they also provide other health benefits, including reduced risk of stroke (and Type 2 Diabetes) and better blood pressure levels.
Boost Potassium Levels with Bananas
Most people know that affordable, satisfying and delicious bananas are great sources of potassium (low levels of potassium have been linked with inability to stay asleep). However, a lot of people don’t know that bananas also contain Vitamin B6, which is necessary for melatonin production.
Bananas are just so portable, they are easy to use in an array of recipes and they are such a quick and simple way to combat insomnia.
Stock Up on Sleep-inducing Foods Today
When you’re at the grocery store or local farmer’s market, be sure to use this article as a convenient shopping list. By filling your cart with sleep-inducing foods, you’ll be primed to optimize melatonin production…and to get the minerals that you will need in order to enjoy truly restful sleep.
These foods are natural, healthy and delicious, so adding them to your daily diet should be a truly enjoyable experience.