Sleep is the best meditation for your mind and your body.
We now know from research that when you sleep waste is cleared from your brain, your body’s cells are reenergised, your learning and memories are supported and your libido, mood and appetite are all regulated.
When we sleep, the momentum of our thousands of daily thoughts subsides, Negative Nancy and all her negative comments shuts up for a while, allowing your mind rest…
We can’t underestimate the importance of a good nights sleep.
A night of peaceful, deep and quality sleep is a blessing that only the sleep deprived and insomniacs can truly appreciate. To have not just one, but plenty of your nights filled with rest and sleep, try adding following foods to your diet, especially if you find yourself tossing and turning in your bed at night instead of sleeping.
Let’s Take A Look At Foods to Help You Sleep…
- Chamomile:
Chamomile tea is a popular sleep-inducing tea that helps eliminate stress and anxiety. Before you go to bed, take a moment to sip a warm cup of chamomile herbal tea to relax, unwind and de-stress. Practice some deep breathing while you’re at it, to help bring you into a more rested state. A minimum of 6 breaths pulls you across for stress to rest!
- Pistachios:
Pistachios are not only tasty, but they are a jackpot for sleep. They are jam packed with magnesium, protein, and vitamin B6, which have a major role in inducing sleep. You can eat them raw, a small handful is perfect. However, if you over indulge pistachios will have a reverse effect on your body; eat in moderation to avoid exacerbating your sleep issues.
3. Tart cherry juice:
This juice contains high levels of melatonin, which is responsible for inducing sleep in your body. It can improve the quality of your sleep by regulating your body’s sleep cycles. A study conducted by Louisiana State University found that by insomniacs who drank tart cherry juice increased their sleep time by 90 minutes!
4. Bananas:
This fruit is a powerhouse of magnesium and potassium, which serve as natural sleep aids for your body. If you are feeling wide awake late into the night, try a banana to get yourself to sleep. You can even whip yourself up a thick sugar-free banana shake before you go to bed. If weight loss is on your agenda then I would rethink the banana!
5. Walnuts:
Walnuts contain an amino acid called tryptophan that helps induce and enhance sleep. This amino acid is responsible for the production of melatonin and serotonin, which improve the quality of our sleep by regulating the sleep cycles. The best part about walnuts is that they contain melatonin, so they are not only helping in the production of melatonin, but they add a little more to help you fall asleep even faster.
6. Pumpkin seeds:
A cup of pumpkin seeds contains around 420 mg of magnesium, which is around the daily recommendation . Magnesium is also a sleep-inducing agent for your body. If you cannot find any, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds or sunflower seeds are great substitutions.
The search for the elusive “good night’s sleep” can be frustrating and exhausting, particularly if your hormones are out of whack!
When your hormones are not ‘in flow’ then your sleep, your moods, your hunger turn into your own personal battle ground.
Sound familiar?
Before you reach for any man made synthetic over-the-counter sleep aid, try some of these natural remedies, yes REAL food, to get your body on the right path to sound sleep!
Sleep is a hugely important tool in your weight loss tool box. If you would like to learn more about dropping the kilos, don’t hesitate to connect with me!
Be Healthy, Happy & Amazing!
Caroline xx