Nutrition and Sleep

As with anything to do with the body, food has a crucial part to play in quality of sleep. The foods you eat can help or hinder your sleep. Lets start with the foods that will positively effect sleep.

You may have heard of trytophan, its an essential amino acid which has a calming affect on the nervous system and produces messages of restfulness and relaxation. Have you ever hear people say that warm milk will help you sleep? Well it will, and that's because it is high in trytophan. Other foods high in trytophan include red meat, turkey, bananas, figs, dates, yoghurt, tuna, and nuts just to name a few. Dark green leafy vegetables, brown rice, oats, mushrooms, dill and basil also have a calming affect on the nervous system.

Ideally, right before bed you want to eat as little as possible so that your fill your body full of energy before you sleep and become inactive for 8 to 9 hours; however if you do need to eat try something light and avoid these foods: spicy foods, bacon, cheese, chocolate, eggplant, ham, potatoes, sausage, spinach, and tomato. Stay away from food high in protein and refined sugar. These foods are going have the opposite affect on your nervous system and pick you up.

Its also recommended that you avoid coffee and tea due to their caffeine content. Caffeine is a stimulant and will therefore make you alert. Avoid cigarettes and alcohol as well. These too are stimulants and you'll end up buzzing off the walls which will really disrupt your sleep.

Source : DesiDieter.Com

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