Turn To Healthy Diet Choices For Help Falling Asleep

Your diet says a lot about your overall health. The old saying 'you are what you eat' holds a lot of truth. In fact, many conditions can be cured or at least improved by eating the appropriate foods and avoiding others. Insomnia is one of those conditions. While it's not the answer in 100% of the cases, eating in a certain way can offer plenty of help falling asleep when you need it most.

Eat Plenty Of Sleep-Friendly Foods

In general, if you want to sleep better at night, there are certain foods you should be eating during the day. Foods that are high in vitamin B3 (also known as niacin), for example, can help you fall asleep faster and stay that way through the night. Also, foods containing tryptophan are known for their sleep-inducing abilities.

Turkey is one of the most common foods with tryptophan, and you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to eat it. You can include more chicken, lettuce and peanuts in your diet to enhance your sleep at night.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are also great options, providing your body with the energy it needs to get through the day. By promoting good health, they have a positive effect on your ability to sleep at night. Also aim for plenty of good carbohydrates, especially whole grains such as whole wheat and brown rice during the day.

You can also try this right before bed... drinking warm milk or decaffeinated tea with honey can relax you and get you ready for a good night's slumber.

Avoid Foods That Interfere With Restful Sleep

There are also lots of foods that can contribute to your sleepless nights and you should do your best to avoid them. Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine are prime examples and MSG is also a no-no. Keep these substances off limits if you have trouble sleeping.

Alcohol is another problem because it makes you think you're relaxed and sleepy. Many people believe a glass of wine or cocktail helps them sleep better when the opposite is true. Although a bit of alcohol may help you fall asleep quickly, it usually causes you to awaken during the night. In addition, the sleep you get is not as restful as it should be in most cases.

Spicy foods are yet another problem for many people who suffer from insomnia. If these types of food cause your stomach to be upset, take care to avoid them late in the day.