Are you awake in there??
You ever find yourself just nodding off in the middle of the day? Eyes still open, but nobody home? It usually is your body doing what you didn’t get done. Sleep.
Your body is a wonderful, miraculous thing and it will, in spite of our best efforts, make some effort to take care of itself. Sleep is a biggie. Most of us can and do complain on a regular basis that we need to get more sleep. Sometimes it is as simple as not being in bed long enough. Sometimes it is that we can’t seem to turn our minds off. We tend to think about all the things we didn’t get done, and things we should have. Then we tend to worry about the most random things too. Sometimes our bodies hurt. It is hard to sleep when you are truly hurting. Then, there is the whole portion of the population with small children who won’t let you sleep until they have moved out.
For whatever reason, hormones, stress, worry, workload, pain, we need to sleep more!
I just read a study that says 63% of Americans don’t get enough sleep during the week.
This is dangerous.
We know now that sleeping while driving is done more often and is more dangerous than drinking and driving. And lack of sleep leads to a lot of serious health problems such as depression and heart disease.
But before you run for a prescription or random drugs over the counter, in the drugstore, there are a few foods you can eat at home that may help you get a better night sleep.
1. Dairy – Studies have shown that a lack of calcium may make it hard to fall asleep. So have a yogurt, some cheese, or even a glass of milk. The melatonin in dairy may help.
2. Bananas – Most of us know that bananas are rich in potassium, but they are also rich in magnesium. Both minerals help relax muscles, therefore help when heading to bed.
3. Hummus – Hummus is made from chickpeas which are high in tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that is linked to sleep. Also, chickpeas contain folate which helps sleep patterns.
4. Fish – Certain fish are higher in Vitamin B6 which your body uses to make melatonin. So choose cod, salmon, halibut tuna, trout or snapper.
5. Herbal Tea – It has long been known that warm liquids before bed help to relax you but choosing chamomile or peppermint teas are truly going to help you relax and fall asleep.
Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone. – Anthony Burgess
