Eating Before Bed

Eating a little food before bed can make us feel full and comforted. And yet many foods we snack on in the evenings are difficult to digest and can actually prevent us from getting a good nights sleep.

What to Eat Before Bed?

As a general rule, we should avoid eating anything less than 3 hours before bedtime. However, if you feel hungry before going to bed, then chances are you shouldn’t ignore your hunger pangs. Your next meal won’t be coming along for another 7 or 8 hours and you don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night feeling hungry.

So what are the best foods to eat before bed?

Ideally, you shouldn’t snack on anything with high calorie content, or anything with too much sugar. During sleep, the body does not burn off many calories and so high-calorie foods are more likely to be stored as fat. Sugary foods might very well keep you awake at night.

Instead, look for a small low-calorie, low-sugar snack that will satisfy your craving and yet be well received by a body that is switching off for the night. Consider slow-digesting proteins that will digest throughout the night. Here are just a few ideas for an ideal bedtime snack that you won’t regret eating, Foods That Help You Sleep:

A.   Oatmeal and Honey: A nice bowl of warm oatmeal can have a calming effect on the nervous system. Oats are rich in phosphorus,calcium,  silicon and magnesiumpotassium, which are all important for supporting sleep. Honey contains a natural compound called “orexin” that is said to help prepare the brain for sleep, making it an excellent alternative to sugar.

B.   Tuna: Because tuna is high in protein it makes a great candidate for a bedtime snack that will slowly digest overnight. Low in calories and sugar,

C.   Cottage Cheese: A dairy product that is high in protein and can be digested slowly.

D.   High-Fibre Cereal & Milk: Whole grain cereals contain complex carbohydrates that are satisfying and boost serotonin to promote calm relaxation.The milk contains tryptophan which works as amino acid to help keep you calm.

E.   Hard Boiled Egg: Eggs are high in protein will help you sleep through the night. Consider eating your egg with a small slice of flax bread contains omega-3 to improve brain function, while the bread provides the complex carbohydrates to boost serotonin.

F.    Banana:  it is said that bananas help to stabilize serotonin and melatonin which aids relaxation and promotes a sound sleep. The magnesium and potassium elements in a banana can also help to relax tired or overworked muscles.

G.   Cherries: relaxing and calming the mind. While fresh cherries are the optimum choice, Naturally boosting the body’s supply of melatonin, these little treasures will help slow you down before bedtime,

H.   Almonds: Containing lots of magnesium, almonds help to make you fall asleep quickly and also are great for protecting your heart. If you’re really hungry then eating a small handful of natural almonds will quickly put hunger at bay as well as providing your body with “good fats”.

Paying attention to the foods you eat before bed will greatly enhance your well being and help you to get the good night’s sleep that you need.