Sleep deprivation is obviously not good. It’s hard to function well and get through your day when you’re tired. It can also affect your life in other ways. Recent studies show that sleep deprivation can also lead to heart disease. What’s even worst, is that the relationship between sleep and heart disease is bidirectional. Poor sleep increases your chances of suffering cardiac arrest and makes the symptoms of heart disease worst. Below are some foods that you can include in your diet to help induce sleep.
Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice can be great for getting a good night sleep. It has a high concentration of melatonin, the sleep regulating hormone. When suffering from insomnia, the first thing you should do is increase your melatonin intake. Studies have shown that drinking 8 oz of tart cherry juice twice daily can help you sleep for about an hour and a half longer than normal.
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish, like tuna, salmon, mackerel, and trout are perfect for helping you to get a good night sleep. This is primarily due to their vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid content. This combination helps to increase your serotonin levels which can actually promote sleep.
Walnuts
Walnuts are another great source of omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain significant amounts of linoleic acid and melatonin. This makes them a powerful sleep aid. The omega-3 fatty acids help to produce serotonin which is a sleep enhancing hormone, and the melatonin induces sleep on its own.
Milk
A glass of warm milk is a common folk remedy for inducing sleep. It turns out there’s actually a good reason for it. Milk contains tryptophan which is an amino acid that can actually help to induce sleep when combined with melatonin. Warm milk in an insulated tumbler is the best remedy when you find it difficult to sleep.
Bananas
Bananas are another great source of tryptophan as well as magnesium. Both of these elements can help to induce a good night’s sleep and fend off insomnia.
