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We know that stimulants like coffee and tea before bed are not conducive to a great night’s sleep, but are some foods better than others? Dr. Oz’s website suggests five foods that are great for people who want to kick the sleeping pill habit or who would rather opt for a more natural remedy to help with sleep. When it comes to getting that wake-up-in-the-same-position-sleep we all dream of getting, here are five foods that can help get us there.
1. Scottish Oatmeal
Scottish oatmeal is rich in the sleepy-time hormone, melatonin. When it’s dark, our eyes message our brain that it’s time for bed. The brain then produces melatonin, prepping our body for some shut-eye. The complex carbohydrates in oats encourage serotonin production as well. Just when we thought oatmeal couldn’t get any better!
2. Montmorency Tart Cherries
Montmorency tart cherries boast nearly 6 times the melatonin content than found in regular cherries and helps regulate the sleep cycle. These babies are not only loaded with antioxidants, they’ll assist in sending you off to dreamland too. Drink a glass of Montmorency cherry juice 30 minutes to one hour before bed to help you fall asleep.
3. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are packed with tryptophan, an amino acid commonly found in turkey (thanks, Friends) which makes us feel sleepy. Tryptophan is needed to make serotonin, the hormone that makes us nice and relaxed. Eat a handful of seeds with a banana, or sprinkle ground sunflower seeds in applesauce before bed for a great night’s sleep.
4. Pulque
Best ingested after dinner, Pulque is to be used only on occasion. Pulque, pronounced pool-kay, is an ancient Mexican tequila libation derived from the agave plant. The alcohol and melatonin serve as relaxants. This being an alcoholic beverage, please drink responsibly.
5. Dandelion
Dandelion greens are seriously loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals. They are used among people with sleep issues for their melatonin properties. Eat a dandelion green salad for dinner, or take a dandelion supplement a few hours before bed.
