Not on an Empty Stomach: More Food Suggestions to Help You Sleep

April 20, 2015

It’s 9 in the evening. You’re lying on a soft foam bed, feeling two opposing sensations which are truly agonizing and frustrating: sleepiness and hunger. You want to stand up and attack your kitchen just to satisfy your grumbling stomach, but you also want to sleep because you have to go to work or office early. After all, some foods, like bacon and chocolate, can keep you awake. But worry not! By trying out these food suggestions (aside from these previous ones), you can actually follow your hungry stomach’s command and have a good night sleep afterward!

Walnuts

According to University of Texas researchers, walnuts are a great source of melatonin which helps someone fall asleep faster. Walnuts also contain tryptophan, a sleep-enhancing amino acid that helps in the production of melatonin and serotonin (our body clock hormones that sets our sleep-wake cycles).

Lettuce

A veggie salad for dinner is not only an ideal dish to get rid of excess calories, but also a great help in promoting a good sleep. Lettuce, to be specific, contains lactucarium – a chemical that has sedative properties and can affect the brain similarly to opium. You may also make a tea out of lettuce according to a book entitled Stealth Health. Simmer 3 to 4 large lettuce leaves in a cup for 15 minutes. After removing from heat, add two sprigs of mint, and take a sip before going to bed.

Tuna, Halibut, and Salmon

These three fishes are rich in vitamin B6 – a vitamin needed by the body to make melatonin and serotonin. There are other foods high in vitamin B6, including raw garlic and pistachio nuts.

Jasmine Rice

Rice, like any other foods rich in carbohydrates, can help inducing sleep due to a spike in insulin produced by the body. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, jasmine rice can induce sleep faster than any other long-grain rice because of its glycine content.

Bananas

Bananas are famous for its high potassium content, but it is actually also a good source of Vitamin B6 just like tunas, salmons, and halibuts.

Chickpeas

According to an article published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, chickpeas are also rich in Vitamin B6.

Chamomile Tea

Sipping a cup of this tea can actually help you sleep. According to researchers, drinking chamomile tea is associated with increased level of glycine, a chemical that relaxes our nerves and muscles and acts as a mild sedative.

Honey

Some people find it difficult to catch Zzz’s under the sheets without their honey beside them. You can’t blame them; after all, honey – the literal one, the food produced by bees – aids in the sleep process. The natural sugar found in the sticky-sweet golden-yellow delight raises insulin and helps tryptophan, an amino acid that induces drowsiness, enter the brain.

You don’t have to suffer from either hunger or sleepiness because you can actually still eat or drink something, and still have an awesome sleep! Just remember to eat in moderation to avoid any unwanted dreams!