We're all aware of the effects of what we eat on our general health and our weight. But many of us are not aware of just how what we eat can affect the way we sleep at night. In fact, certain foods could make or break your ability to get a good night's sleep. But what foods are included in the top diets for better sleep?

Foods included in the top diets for a better sleep:

1. Cherries

Many of the best diets for better sleep include cherries. Cherries are a great food for better sleep because they are a natural food source that contains melatonin - the chemical which controls our internal body clock. Drinking cherry juice can improve both the duration and quality of your sleep, so if you're wanting to get involved with the right diet for better sleep, why not pick up some cherries or cherry juice the next time you go shopping.

2. Milk

If you think back to being a child, you may remember being given a nice glass of milk to help ease you off to sleep. Even as an adult many milky drinks are associated with the best diets for better sleep. So the next time you're having trouble drifting off, reach for a nice glass of milk and you should drift off in no time.

3. Cereals

Cereals that are high in carbohydrates and fortified irons are a huge part of many diets for better sleep. In fact, carbohydrates in general rate highly in many diets for better sleep - though it's probably a good idea to steer clear of carbohydrates that also contain high levels of sugar such as sugary cereal or cookies. And, as an added bonus - cereal goes great with milk, allowing you to combine two elements of the best diets for better sleep!

4. Bananas

Because bananas are a natural source of high levels of potassium and magnesium, they're great for diets for better sleep. They’re also high in carbohydrates, which will also make you sleepy. In fact, bananas are a win-win situation in general. Not only are they great in diets for better sleep, but they're great for an all-around healthier diet too.

5. Sweet Potatoes

If you're looking for a diet for better sleep, look no further than recipes containing sweet potatoes. Not only are sweet potatoes a carbohydrate-based food - which we've already discussed as being great for diets for better sleep, but they also contain high levels of potassium. Like bananas, sweet potatoes (and in fact many other varieties of potatoes with the skins left on) contain high levels of potassium which can help you to feel sleepy.

 

So now you know the foods to include in your diet for better sleep, what about the foods to avoid?

1. Chicken

Whilst chicken is a great source of protein, and therefore a great sports training food, it can be counterproductive if you're looking for a diet for better sleep. Generally, our digestive system slows down during sleep, however, protein-rich foods such as chicken take a lot of effort to digest, meaning that if they are consumed late into the night, our body is too busy disgesting to fall asleep.

2. Energy Drinks

Again, whilst energy drinks might be great if you're training for a large sporting event, they're not ideal for diets for better sleep. Because energy drinks are high in both caffeine and electrolytes, they trigger the bodies internal systems to provide you with more energy and adrenaline, both of which are designed to keep you awake and alert.

3. Dark Chocolate

Not only is dark chocolate high in calories, it also usually has a pretty high caffeine level. For instance, a 1.55-ounce bar of dark chocolate can contain as much caffeine as up to 3 cups of coffee! Chocolate is also known to contain a number of other elements and stimulants that work to increase the heart rate and reduce the level of sleepiness that you feel.

4. Coffee

This is probably the most obvious element to remove from your lifestyle if you're wanting to create a diet for better sleep. Because of its high levels of caffeine, coffee is a really effective stimulant and is great at keeping you awake if you've got a last minute project to finish, but if it's sleep you really need - it's best to steer clear. 

5. Fatty foods

Foods with a high-fat content are a good thing to cut out if you're looking for a diet for better sleep.  Fat stimulates the production of stomach acid, which can lead to heartburn. Fatty foods also loosen the barrier between your stomach and oesophagus, making it easier for fatty foods to get to all the places they shouldn't! In fact, there's very, very little to recommend the consumption of heavy foods if you're looking at diets for better sleep.

 

Overall, a better diet is highly likely to improve the way you sleep. But if you find that a change in diet has little or no effect on your bed-time comfort, check out our Sonno mattress and update your sleep environment today.