5 Foods that help you sleep like a baby, really? U must be wondering if nutrition has any role to play in your siesta. Sure it does. Let me jelp you understand how does food affect your sleep.
Food certainly is related to sleep. Interestingly, sleep is the missing link in the diet-exercise concept most people relate to good health. A balanced diet is essential in contributing to the quality of sleep. That’s because several macro and micro nutrients; amino acids and minerals etc. play a significant role in regulating hormonal and other bodily functions. Thus, the foods one consumes play a key role in the complex mechanism of sleep.
Moreover, it’s not simply about your choice of foods; rather at what times, and in what proportions they are consumed also matters. For instance, it is best to keep a gap of 2-3 hours between your last meal of the day and your bedtime. That’s because consuming too much, and close to bedtime puts a strain on your digestive system – thus hampering the quality of sleep.
5 Five foods which aid the quality of sleep.
Milk
A cup of warm milk acts as a great nightcap. It contains good amounts of calcium, vitamin D and melatonin, in addition to Tryptophan which are known to promote good sound sleep.
Cashews
They help in relaxing nerves and are high in manganese. Thus, it a sound choice to include a few in your dinner or post sunset as they help in restorative sleep. Cashews are not high on cholesterol; so even diabetics may include them as part of a nightcap, or simply hand pound them in your nightly cup of warm milk!
Nutmeg (Jaayaphal in Hindi)
It is a potent medicinal food (spice) from times immemorial. It helps in calming the nerves and in releasing serotonin. A point to remember herein is that this food must be included only in minute quantities. Just a pinch-full of nutmeg is sufficient, and can be taken with warm milk as a sprinkling.
Complex Carbohydrates
Roti and rice, as many fear might lead to weight gain if consumed during dinner, are actually good to be had! They help release tryptophan in the body and induce sound sleep. Moreover, complex carbs keep you satiated, thus also contributing to restful sleep at night. The idea is to eat rationally in right quantities as part of dinner
Sweet Potatoes
Shakarkandi, as it’s known in India, is another great choice to eat at night. Bountiful of potassium, magnesium and calcium, these minerals are proven to help in calming nerves and promoting quality sleep.
All these five foods are easily available and sustainable, unlike few exotic foods which might be tough to include in your daily diet.
This article was published in Only My Health-How Does Food Affect Your Sleep? 5 Foods To Eat Before Going To Bed
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Confused by the misinformation about potential health problems with traditional Indian foods ? Get in touch with the Best Dietitian in Delhi Madhavi K Sharma is a strong advocate of the holistic, wellness benefits of fresh, local, and traditional Indian foods.
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