If you’re searching for an excuse to eat a sleeve of Oreos with a glass of milk before bed, we might be able to help. Eating the right snacks, with certain minerals and vitamins, before bed can help you get good quality sleep. Some of these vitamins and minerals are found in:
Dairy
Calcium found in milk, low-fat yogurt, cheese, and so forth enable the brain to utilize the tryptophan (sleep-enhancing amino acid) in dairy to produce the sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin.
Nuts & Seeds
Almonds, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, cashews, flaxseed, and walnuts are a good source of tryptophan as well. They’re also rich in magnesium, an instrumental mineral for sleep and a natural relaxant.
Fruits & Vegetables
Green vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli are loaded with calcium, used to manufacture melatonin. Fruits such as tart cherries, pomegranate, grapes, apples, bananas, and peaches are an excellent source for natural melatonin.
Grains
Foods with a high glycemic index, such as pretzels, corn chips, and rice shorten the time to fall asleep by raising your blood sugar and insulin levels. Grains such as barley, wheat, corn, and rolled oats also help convert natural serotonin, calcium, and magnesium into melatonin.
Although a sleeve of Oreos isn’t technically on the list, we know the glass of milk is approved and you could argue the cream filling qualifies as sleep-inducing dairy. As for the chocolate wafers … we’re afraid you’re on your own. Happy bedtime snacking!