A woman sleeping, blog is about what and when you should eat to get better sleep

May 01, 2022

What and When Should You Eat to Get Better Sleep?

Your quality of sleep can affect several health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, just to name a few.

However, only a third of adults in Canada are getting an adequate amount of sleep, according to the government of Canada.

Almost everything you do during the day affects your sleep at night. Eating is no exception. Fortunately, some foods and drinks contain chemicals that help facilitate your sleep cycle, meaning you can change your diet to help you fall asleep quicker and sleep better.

You’ll want to look for foods containing high concentrations of sleep-promoting compounds such as:

tryptophan
melatonin
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
calcium
potassium
magnesium
pyridoxine
L-ornithine
serotonin
histamine
acetylcholine
folate
antioxidants
vitamin D
B vitamins
Zinc
Copper

10 BEST FOODS AND DRINKS FOR BETTER SLEEP

Based on scientific research and nutritional profiles, we have compiled a list of the best foods and drinks you can have. There is also information on the best time to eat them to improve your sleep quality.

1. Almonds

Almonds contain a high concentration of melatonin, a hormone that lets you know it’s time for bed and helps regulate your sleep cycle.

Furthermore, 1 oz of almonds contains 77 mg of magnesium and 76 mg of calcium. Both minerals also help promote sleep as well as muscle relaxation.

2. Warm milk

Warm milk is a common fix for trouble sleeping due to its containing tryptophan, calcium, vitamin D, and melatonin, all of which are sleep-promoting compounds.

Additionally, the childhood association with milk and bedtime combined with the feeling of warmth and comfort of a warm glass of milk is also highly effective for promoting sleep as it is relaxing and calming.

3. Kiwi fruit

Kiwi can help facilitate the sleep cycle and improve your sleep as the fruit contains many sleep-promoting compounds, including:

Melatonin
Anthocyanins
Flavonoids
Carotenoids
Potassium
Magnesium
Folate
Calcium

A study examining the link between consuming kiwi and sleep found that those who ate two kiwifruits 1 hour before sleeping for three weeks reported increased sleep time, improved sleep quality, and decreased the time it took to fall asleep.

4. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is known for its calming properties, a popular remedy for insomnia and facilitating sleep. According to researchers, this sleep-inducing effect may be due to a compound called Apigenin, commonly found in chamomile.

While research evidence to support the hypothesis that chamomile improves sleep quality is relatively weak, the warm and soothing effects of drinking chamomile are still beneficial in helping one mentally wind down for sleep.

5. Walnuts

Walnuts may help promote and regulate sleep due to them containing several sleep-inducing compounds such as melatonin, serotonin, and magnesium.

6. Cherries

In a 2018 student called “A Review of the Health Benefits of Cherries,” researchers found a positive correlation between improved sleep and cherry consumption before bed.

Cherries can help induce sleep as they are rich in four compounds that regulate sleep: melatonin, potassium, serotonin, and tryptophan. There is speculation among researchers that a special antioxidant found in cherries called polyphenols may also help facilitate sleep.

7. Fatty Fish

Because fatty fish are high in vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, two serotonin-regulating nutrients, they may help improve sleep. This is mainly because serotonin plays a crucial role in one’s sleep cycle as it promotes the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

Fish also contains several other sleep-promoting nutrients, including:

Potassium
Magnesium
phosphorous
Zinc
Vitamin B-12
Folate
Calcium

Moreover, a 2014 study found that participants who ate 300 grams of Atlantic salmon three times a week for six months fell asleep faster and reported better sleep quality than those who ate other meats with the same nutritional value.

8. Rice

There is some evidence that rice consumption can improve sleep. A study of adults in Japan found that those who regularly ate rice reported better sleep quality than those who consumed other carbohydrates.

This study supports prior research that found eating certain foods with a high glycemic index around 4 hours before sleeping can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

9. Bananas

Bananas can promote sleep as they contain potassium which plays a role in improving sleep duration. They also contain magnesium, which is found in studies to treat insomnia and similar sleep-related problems. Lastly, they can induce sleep because they contain tryptophan which stimulates the production of sleep and calming hormones.

10. Dark chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine, which acts as a muscle relaxant that helps facilitate cardiovascular activities. As such, there are studies that suggest theobromine can promote sleep. Furthermore, chocolate also contains tryptophan, which again stimulates the production of serotonin and melatonin, both of which help facilitate sleep. It is worth noting that tryptophan impacts everyone differently, and the amount of tryptophan is different between each chocolate type.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO EAT BEFORE BED?

Juliana Dewsnap, RD, LDN, CPT, and a dietitian say the best time to eat dinner is at least 2-3 hours before bedtime. This schedule allows sufficient time for the stomach to digest and to prepare for bedtime before sleeping. This prevents the consequences of digestion from disrupting your sleep.

This is especially true for those that suffer from heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, or GERD as their symptoms may worsen to go to bed while still digesting food. However, she notes that there is no “best time” to eat before bed, so just seeing how you feel and playing it by ear is not a bad idea either.

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