Did you know that there are about 70,000,000 (70 million!) people in the U.S. that have trouble sleeping, dealing with various sleep disorders? And what if a number of them also had to contend with pain while sleeping? Not a good combination, huh? And if you don’t get appropriate amounts of sleep, that can lead to more pain as inflammation may not addressed naturally, increased chances of weight gain, diabetes, and a number of other health risks. Definitely a catch-22! But wait, there’s hope. In addition to finding the right positions to sleep according to your area of pain, there are foods that can help you sleep, as well.
Here are 5 foods that will help you get some well-deserved sleep:
- Cherries. These fruits are great sources of melatonin, the hormone that helps you go to sleep.
- Honey. It has been found that a bit of honey at bedtime will cause you to have sweet dreams. Okay, just kidding. But the truth of the matter is that honey is known to keep orexin, a neurotransmitter that helps you stay alert, at lower levels if consumed. Therefore, honey will help you relax and fall asleep a bit more easier if you have some at bedtime.
- Bananas. This fruit is considered one of the top bedtime snacks since it contains several elements that help you go to sleep. It contains the amino acid tryptophan, known to give you feelings of well-being and helps you sleep easier. Also, bananas contain the minerals potassium and magnesium, which are known as natural muscle relaxants.
- Salmon. This fish contains the vitamin B6, which enhances the production of melatonin in your body. So not only is salmon a good source of omega-3 fats, but also for the sleep hormone melatonin.
- Almonds. These nuts are good sources of the mineral magnesium, a natural muscle relaxant. Its protein content will help stabilize your blood glucose levels during your sleep, if consumed at bedtime. Here’s a one-two punch bedtime snack to help you get some nice z’s … almond butter covered banana slices!
So if you’ve been having problems getting a good night’s rest, why not eat those tasty and healthy foods that will help you go to sleep more easily, rather than trying to count backwards from 1000!
