Glit Fit: Snooze Foods

Posted by Elle Fowler on Jul 9, 2011

I started wondering if there are any foods that are better to eat later in the evening to help you sleep… and boy did I find a goldmine of information!

We’ve all heard that drinking warm milk or eating turkey will make you sleepy, but I found some really surprising foods (and a drink) that will actually help you get some shut eye too.

I had no idea about this, but dried cherries have a good amount of natural melatonin in them. Try eating a handful or two of dried cherries an hour or so before you hit the hay.

Another food that will help you sleep is garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas). These fiber rich beans have a lot of vitamin B6 that causes your body to make more serotonin, which is good for sleeping.

Popcorn is another surprising snooze food. Like turkey, it also has tryptophan in it that can induce sleepiness by triggering serotonin. And popcorn (not to buttery or salty though) is low in calories, which is also better for a pre-bedtime snack since heavy meals and foods can keep you awake because you body is still digesting.

But, if you’re afraid to eat anything too close to bedtime, sip on some chamomile tea. Chamomile is caffeine free and has a very calming effect on the body that will leave you relaxed and ready to dream. And if you want to make your chamomile tea extra sleepy, add some honey. Apparently, honey has something in it that also calms the body and affects “wakefulness.”

The next time you find yourself restless or know you might have some trouble falling asleep, try snacking on these items I mentioned to get those zzz’s going.