There was an article in my hometown newspaper today that just goes perfectly with my previous blog about sleep!
And right up my alley too!
Bedtime snacks!
I always have to have one before bed!
I'm not makin' this stuff up!
This is according to the National Sleep Foundation:
Changes in sleep patterns are a part of the aging process.
Many people experience difficulty falling asleep and then staying asleep as we get older.
Here's the good news.
There are certain snack foods that may help to improve quality of sleep!
AARP notes that the following are a handful of snack foods that promote better sleep.
• Almonds:
Magnesium is a mineral with muscle relaxing properties, and almonds contain enough magnesium to help you get a better night's sleep.
A small amount of almonds before bedtimes may be enough to make falling and staying asleep easier.
• Bananas
Much like almonds, bananas provide a substantial amount of magnesium.
Bananas also contain the amino acid tryptophan, which many people relate to that sleepy feeling after that Thanksgiving turkey dinner!
A banana shortly before bed might be just what you need to fall and stay asleep.
• Cheese and crackers
Cheese and crackers contain tryptophan and some carbohydrates which can induce a better night's sleep and help you fall asleep sooner.
• Cherries
Cherries contain the sleep hormone melatonin.
AARP notes that people who drank tart cherry juice on a regular basis fell asleep more quickly and slept longer and better than participants who did not.
• Walnuts
Walnuts, like cherries contain melatonin which contributes to better sleep.
• Peanut butter
Another snacking item loaded with tryptophan.
Spread some on a some carbohydrate like a piece of toast and sleep better!!
• Hummus
The main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, which are loaded with tryptophan, folate and vitamin B6. Folate has proven especially helpful to older men and women who need help regulating sleep patterns while B6 helps the body regulate it's clock!
So there you have it!
Many men and women experience difficulty sleeping as they age. But the right foods may just help combat such problems and help men and women get a more adequate night's sleep.
I'm all for that.
What about you!!
Shirley
