5 Food That Can Help You Sleep Better

Us Jakartans have our schedule jam-packed with activities, be it work-related, keeping up with our social life or even spending time with loved ones. Even if you frequent the gym and follow a strict workout regimen religiously, lack of sleep can still do a number on your health. Here are the top 5 foods that can help you get a better quality of sleep!

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese has a soft texture and less moisture in comparison to other type of cheeses. It’s made from the whey remains from the production of butter. You can find this type of cheese in stores carrying healthier options. The tryptophan amino acid in this cheese is what’s responsible in helping you get a good night rest. You should consume half to one small bowl of this cheese during the night. You can even add a natural nut butter to make it more nutritious.

Oatmeal

Even though most would consume this during breakfast, eating oatmeal prior to bedtime can be beneficial as well. This carb-loaded food helps the production of serotonin neurotransmitter. With a sufficient level of serotonin in your system, your body will become more relaxed and hence you’ll get to sleep faster. Mix it with skim milk, apple slices, and cinnamon for a kick it up a notch.

Nut or Nut Butter

Another good option to help you get a proper shut-eye is nut or nut butter. Nuts have a high level of niacin, which also promotes the reuptake of serotonin in your brain. Due to its high fat and calorie content, you do have to tread carefully when consuming it. Eat just enough, you can even properly measure it out so you won’t exceed your daily calorie limit. Spread the nut butter on a whole grain toast or just eat all natural toasted nuts without salt added.

Warm Milk

As it turns out, this one is not just a myth! Drinking warm milk before bed does help you get better sleep. With its tryptophan amino acid content, it’s no puzzle why milk is good for bedtime. Not only that, drinking something warm can also make you relaxed, which helps us get to sleep faster as well. The calcium content in milk also regulates our natural sleep cycle. You can take your warm milk with a little of honey added to give more taste.

Grapes

Grapes are the only fruit that contain melatonin that helps regulate our sleeping pattern. If you eat grapes regularly, it will promote the regulation of our sleep cycle and you can have a more predictable sleeping time and even sleep early! A small bowl of milk with grapes does sound good, no?

Originally published on Fimela.com. Translated and edited by Gold's Gym Indonesia.