what food puts you to sleep
Carbohydrate-rich foods complement dairy foods by increasing the level of sleep-inducing tryptophan in the blood. So a few perfect late night snacks to get you snoozing might include a bowl of cereal and milk, yogurt and crackers, or bread and cheese.
Researchers theorize that high glycemic-index foods like jasmine rice may boost tryptophan and serotonin, thus encouraging sleep. In the AJCN study, men fell asleep after an average of nine minutes. Make sure to stick with jasmine rice rather than opting for the lower glycemic-index long-grain rice.
Green tea contains theanine, an amino acid that helps promote sleep. But really, all varieties are soothing enough to encourage drowsiness, so long as theyâre decaf. âTea helps you relax,â says Hensrud, who suggests herbal, mild flavors. Try a one-cup serving before turning in at night.
Milk is full of tryptophan, so it will have a sedative effect. Plus, itâs a good source of calcium, which helps regulate the production of melatonin. âIf you canât sleep or if youâre waking up in the middle of the night, get out of bed and have some milk,â Hensrud says. Make it even sweeter with a teaspoon of honey.