Superfoods For Sleep: 5 Surprising Foods To Give You A Peaceful Slumber

By Caroline Soriano | Feb 03, 2017 | 02:07 AM EST

Sleeping is one of the best things to achieve a healthy lifestyle but not all people are able to sleep properly whether they have the chance or not. Insomnia, or the inability to sleep, happens in one out of three people. Meanwhile, most adults have a difficulty of having a full night sleep and one of the reasons is because of the food they eat before dozing off to bed.

The "Good Sleep Guide" author, Sammy Margo, shared five surprising foods that a person should consume prior to sleeping. She also shared some of the foods that should be avoided to achieve a good night slumber.

The first on the list is bananas as they are a good source of magnesium and sleep-promoting hormones like melatonin and serotonin. It also possesses muscle relaxant properties. Sammy also suggested consuming honey as it contains glucose, which is responsible for telling the brain to shut off a certain neuropeptide known for promoting alertness, the orexin.

Almonds also make it on the list, as per Daily Mail Online, since it contains magnesium and tryptophan. These two aid in reducing muscle and nerve function naturally while stabilizing the heart's rhythm. Sammy also recommends eating oats as the grains present in it promote insulin production and increase in blood sugar naturally.

Last but not the least, Sammy shared how turkey helps in having proper sleep as it is packed with tryptophan -- an amino acid that induces sleepiness.

Meanwhile, Greatist shared some of the worst food that is usually consumed by many before sleeping. One is the late night cup of coffee. Coffee is known for being the source of caffeine, a stimulant that hinders someone from sleeping.

Next is the consumption of alcohol. While having a glass of red wine makes someone feel sleepy, some types of alcoholic beverages actually distract people from sleeping. Furthermore, avoiding high-fat foods is also suggested as these take a longer time to digest, making the body fully awake or not rested.

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