Sleep is a precious thing and something that too many of us don’t get enough of. With poor sleep habits and difficulty, getting to sleep or staying asleep is a problem that affects our daily functioning. In order to sleep better, consider eating some of these healthy, organic foods that promote better sleep so that you can get the kind of sleep that allows you to be refreshed all day long.
Foods to Help You Sleep
Foods you won’t want to do without when it comes to healthy sleep:
Free Range Turkey
Free range or wild turkey is organic and high in L-tryptophan, which is a natural sleep-inducer. Turkey is well known to promote sleep and to get you into a sleepy state so you can drift off without difficulty. L-tryptophan is a precursor to several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, that fight depression and that tell your brain to relax and get some real sleep.
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish, such as tuna, halibut, and salmon are high in vitamin B6. B6 is a vitamin that is necessary to promote the making of melatonin, which is a hormone made by the pineal gland. It tells us when to sleep at night and when to wake up. Without melatonin, we don’t get the nighttime signal that says, “it’s time to go to sleep now.”
Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice is unsweetened juice that contains melatonin. Adults who suffer from chronic insomnia that drink a couple of glasses of unsweetened cherry juice can find they sleep longer and better, with fewer episodes of insomnia.
Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice is rich in carbohydrates, particularly complex carbohydrates. Jasmine rice has a high glycemic index, which promotes insulin release and increases the amount of L-tryptophan in your bloodstream. Eat it for supper in order to get sleepy enough to get to sleep well.
Yogurt
Both yogurt and milk are high in calcium. There is some evidence to suggest that people who don’ get enough calcium are prone to having problems falling asleep at night. If you eat in order to increase calcium in your bloodstream, it tells your brain that it’s okay to sleep.
Kale
Kale and other dark, leafy greens are high in calcium. You don’t have to eat it just before sleep in order to have it help you get to sleep better. Kale and similar greens will increase the amount of calcium in your system so that you can get to sleep better and can stay asleep for longer periods of time. Calcium is not a hypnotic or sedative but instead naturally allows your body to get to sleep on your own.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is an herbal and all natural member of the mint family, has been used for ages to induce sleep, and is even more effective in combination with the valerian herb. The tea is easy to make, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried lemon balm leaves and valerian to 1 cup of hot water and steep for 10 minutes.
Chamomile
Chamomile is another herb that has been used for insomnia for thousands of years and has been shown in studies to reduce mild cases of anxiety. Make a tea from dried chamomile leaves or purchase readymade organic chamomile teas at a health food store.
Bananas
Bananas are a healthy food that is high in potassium and vitamin B6. We need vitamin B6 in order to make melatonin. You don’t have to eat bananas right before sleep. Just having enough vitamin B6 in your system will make sure that melatonin is made and stored by the pineal gland. It is released in a circadian pattern so that you have higher levels of melatonin at night and lower levels during the day.
These are just some of the great organic foods you can partake in as part of a healthy diet containing calcium, magnesium, tryptophan, and vitamin B6 so that the body and brain has the basic nutrients necessary for getting to sleep and staying asleep all night long. In addition, keep in mind that the nutrients in these foods have many other benefits for health and wellness.
