
7 Healthy Drinks That Help You Sleep Better
If you find yourself tossing and turning in the middle of the night on a regular basis, you’re not alone. Some 70 million Americans have insomnia or another type of sleep disorder, which increases one’s risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Fortunately, there are several natural sleep aids that may
improve the quality of your sleep, including several teas and beverages. To help
you sleep better, consider adding one or more of the following healthy drinks
to your diet.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile, a daisy-like flower, has for years been consumed
for its health benefits, including relieving cold symptoms, reducing inflammation
and improving skin health.
It has also been shown to be effective
in promoting sleep; a 2015 study
examined women with poor sleep quality who had recently given birth. They had
fewer symptoms of inadequate sleep after consuming chamomile tea.
Experts recommend drinking a cup of chamomile tea 45 minutes before bed to induce sleepiness and help you fall asleep more easily.
Warm milk
The old wives’ tale might have some truth behind it; many find
drinking warm milk before bedtime to be an effective way to get a
good night’s sleep. Milk contains tryptophan, which could be a reason why it
may induce sleep.
It’s also possible that having a
glass of warm milk before bed is simply a soothing ritual that helps you
unwind and prepare to rest. If you want to give warm milk a try, simply choose
your favorite milk and bring it to a low simmer on the stove for a couple of
minutes.
If you don’t drink cow’s milk or are lactose intolerant, don’t
fret. Almond
milk is a great alternative, as it is high in sleep-promoting compunds and
minerals, including tryptophan, melatonin and magnesium.
Banana smoothies
Not only are banana smoothies an easy, delicious treat,
they’re also great for promoting healthy sleep patterns. Simply blend a banana with some
almond butter and milk to create the perfect bedtime snack.
This healthy drink won’t just fight off midnight snack
cravings; it also contains plenty of magnesium and potassium to promote muscle
relaxation and help you unwind at the end of a long day.
Cherry juice
Cherries aren’t just a tasty pie filling. They’re also packed
with antioxidants and are even linked
to improved sleep quality.
That’s because, like milk, cherries contain tryptophan, an
amino acid that’s a predecessor to the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate
when you fall asleep and wake up. Though both sweet and tart cherry varieties
contain melatonin, the tart types pack the most.
Although studies on the sleep-inducing qualities of cherry
juice are limited, they generally found that drinking two cups of cherry juice
a day improved
nightly rest, decreased the number of awakenings and resulted in higher
urinary melatonin levels first thing in the morning.
Because two cups of cherry juice contains so much sugar, we
recommend drinking just 4 ounces before bedtime to see if you notice
improvement in your sleep. You can also combine this with tart cherry extract
capsules to reduce your sugar consumption.
Valerian tea
The root of valerian, a perennial plant, has for centuries been
used as a medicinal herb to help reduce anxiety and stress, and promote
calmness.
Today, valerian root is widely used to combat sleep disorders
like insomnia. The herb particularly shows promise for improving
sleep quality among postmenopausal women.
Tea made from dried valerian is considered a safe strategy to
manage insomnia that doesn’t alter circadian rhythm, the body’s daily pattern
that dictates when it’s time to sleep and wake.
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Coconut water
Often consumed as an energy drink, coconut water might not be
the first beverage you’d think of to help you fall asleep.
But the fact is that coconut
water is packed with magnesium, potassium and other natural ingredients
that can help you sleep better. Furthermore, it’s chock full of vitamin B,
which has been studied to decrease stress levels.
Passionflower tea
Passionflower, a flowering type of vine, is a popular herb that’s
been said to help with insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes and pain, among other conditions.
Studies suggest that passionflower works by increasing the amino acid gamma-aminobutyric
acid in the brain, resulting in relaxation, enhanced mood, better sleep and
pain relief.
Results of a small-scale study showed that sleep quality was
significantly better among participants who drank passionflower tea
compared with those who consumed a placebo.
While none of these sleepy time drinks are guaranteed to instantly
put you to sleep, they do contain nutrients that may help you wind down and switch
off. When combined with healthy
sleeping habits, these drinks might be just the remedy you need to fight
off insomnia and catch better ZZZs.