Do you remember how as a child, whenever you can't sleep, your mom would give you a warm glass of milk to help you feel sleepy. You may think that it's just a make-believe cure for sleeplessness, but there is a scientific fact to back it up.
Milk is rich in tryptophans. Tryptophan is a kind of amino acid which the body converts into the brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin, both of which are said to have an effect in regulating sleep.
You may be one to quickly jump into taking prescription sleeping aids like Rozerem or other over-the-counter sleeping products. But would it be better if you get the sleep you needed naturally?
Know that milk isn't the only nighttime food rich in tryptophan. You can also find this amino acid in oats, bananas, poultry products, dairy product and peanuts. Also, combining food products rich in carbohydrates with a little bit of protein can increase the amount of tryptophans in the brain. With these food items in mind, you can play around and make your own light, bedtime snack combinations.
If the above mentioned foods help you feel sleepy, there are food items that give your brain a good jolt. Making you feel more awake. And to give you an idea of what food these are, here are some foods that you should try to avoid eating before bedtime:
High protein foods like meats should be avoided before sleeping time. Protein rich foods contain lyrosine, an amino acid that stimulates brain activity. The more your brain is working, the more difficult it is to fall asleep.
Lay off the spicy snacks before going to sleep. These can cause heartburn which can be very uncomfortable, especially when you're lying down.
Avoid taking coffee or caffeine-based drinks. Caffeine is a known stimulant and can increase nervous system activity, causing sleeping difficulties.
Don't drink alcohol before sleeping. Although it may make you feel sleepy, alcohol-induced sleep is often easy to disrupt.
Lessen your water intake before bedtime. Drinking lots of it before you sleep makes you prone to waking up in the wee hours with the need to pee.
Do note that these are simple remedies for those occasional sleepless nights that every one experiences every once in a while. If your sleeping difficulties persist and increase in frequency, calling a doctor for professional advice is the best course of action.
Mark Walters is a part-time writer and a part-time researcher. He is currently self-studying various Far Eastern languages and is an avid fiction reader. He is currently writing articles oriented towards consumers of pharmaceutical products. internetpharmacy is a reputable online drug store and offers an array of health products and medicare prescription drugs.