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Avoid sleepless nights with these fixes
There are certain foods we can eat to help us fall asleep easily.
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There are certain foods we can eat to help us fall asleep easily. (Shutterstock/Africa Studio)
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span id="docs-internal-guid-96efa75b-f8f2-3201-3b85-9f668085681f">Sometimes, a good night’s sleep can be hard to come by. While it’s recommended that adults get between seven to nine hours a night, it’s not always as simple as shutting your eyes and drifting off. Still, there are a handful of natural fixes that can lead to a restful night.
Clinical nutritionist Dr. Josh Axe was quoted by Express as saying that while heavy meals before bed can make sleep more difficult, there are certain foods you can consume to put you in the right frame of mind for bed.
“You can obtain tryptophan and serotonin [which help you sleep] from carbohydrates particularly wholegrain oats, brown rice, corn and quinoa,” said Axe.
There are also two vitamins that are key to getting more sleep, and that a restless night might be due to a deficiency.
Read also: Nine sleep myths debunked
“Researchers indicate that calcium is important [for sleep] because it helps the cells in the brain use the tryptophan to create melatonin -- a sleep aid,” said Axe.
He added that studies have shown how higher magnesium levels can help induce a deeper sleep.
In order to get more magnesium, Axe recommends crackers with almond butter or half a banana with almonds.
Meanwhile, sleep expert Carole Spiers advises taking a warm bath before bed.
“A warm bath can help you ease the day’s stress ahead of bedtime, and the heat helps your body prepare for sleep and it relaxes both your muscles and mind.” (sul/mut)
