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7. Eat right for a good night: Foods that help you sleep better

Looking for a hack that will help you sleep better? – It’s quite simple, Eat better! Whether it is the hypnotizing effect of social media or the pile of inadvertent thoughts and stress, your sleep cycle has to bear the brunt of all the distractions.

Sleep has become a commodity rather than a primary body function, due to its rarity, and lack of sleep comes with some serious health issues. If you are a part of the “no-sleep clan” or can’t seem to snooze off, no matter what, you might have tried almost everything by now to get a good night’s sleep. But have you tried tweaking your diet?

Your last meal before you hit the sheets makes a lot of difference in your sleep schedule. Try to steer clear of fried foods, caffeine (tea, coffee, soda drinks), sugary foods, and processed foods before you plan to sleep as saturated fat and processed carbohydrates can keep you tossing and turning for long hours. If you are a fan of rummaging leftovers, at midnight while you binge your favourite shows, it’s time to pull the reins and switch to healthier options. Stick to the night bites listed below, and conquer over a peaceful slumber!

Bid adieu to tossing and turning at night with healthy food choices!

Herbal tea

It is no surprise that herbal teas like chamomile, earl grey and can help you doze off into a deep slumber. These teas possess a soothing effect on your body and relax the nerves, thus eliminating lingering thoughts that keep you up all night!

Dry Fruits

Dry Fruits like nuts, almonds, and pistachios contain high melatonin, which is a sleep hormone. Not only this, almonds are an excellent source of magnesium, which helps in improving sleep quality, especially for those who have insomnia.

Warm Milk

Having a glass of milk before you sleep, might be a childhood ritual for many. But, did you know that it is used as a remedy for sleeplessness? Milk contains compounds like tryptophan, calcium, vitamin D, and melatonin which induce sleep and improves the sleep cycle. However, make sure that you do not intake caffeine with milk as it might reverse the effects and keep you up for several hours.

Fish

Fish, especially salmon, is rich in Omega3 and vitamin B6 which boosts the production of melatonin and helps you sleep faster and better. If you do not wish to eat fish as a snack, try to include it in your dinner or toss it up with some greens for the best results.

Bananas

Replace your sugar craving at night with bananas, as they are healthy and moreover promote sound sleep. Bananas are well-known for being rich in potassium and are also a good source of vitamin B6, which is required to make melatonin. Try whipping up a banana smoothie with yoghurt and get into a deep and quick slumber.

Popcorn

For all the midnight snackers, popcorn is your haven! It is healthy, contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is important for sleep and provides a longer sleep duration than other packaged food items.

Dark Chocolate

While the health benefits of dark chocolate are not new, here is one more reason to enjoy the snack guilt-free. Dark chocolate contains magnesium that can help a person sleep better at night by keeping their circadian rhythms in check.

Hummus

Hummus is the perfect option for your late-night hunger pangs. Chickpeas, the main ingredient in hummus, are rich in tryptophan, folate, and vitamin B6 which helps in producing melatonin and serotonin, thus keeping a check on your sleep patterns.