Are you one of those people who tosses and turns before you can fall asleep? If you've tried everything else to get to sleep faster and no other sleep aid is working, why not try eating a banana before bed? Adding the bedtime snack to your routine is a legitimate suggestion for trying to get a good night's sleep, and it's a pretty simple one at that.
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Can Bananas Help You Sleep?
There's a chance eating a banana as a late-night snack might help you get better sleep due to the health benefits involved. Bananas contain certain nutrients that might help "enhance sleep and relaxation," according to Healthline.
One of those nutrients is magnesium, which one banana has a good amount of. "Magnesium helps maintain a normal circadian cycle," Healthline says, adding that, "Studies show that supplementing with 500 mg of magnesium daily may increase melatonin production and reduce cortisol levels."
Melatonin is a hormone produced during your sleep cycle and can help you get to sleep faster. If you want a restful sleep, adding in the perfect bedtime snack of a banana may help.
Bananas are also a good source of tryptophan, an essential amino acid. It can improve your sleep quality and get deep sleep, and help your sleep vs. wake cycle because it helps you wake up less at night.
Bananas are also high in carbohydrates, which "increase the chances of tryptophan entering the brain to be converted into serotonin and melatonin," Healthline lines. And, of course, they're full of potassium. Low levels of potassium are linked to worse sleep for people with high blood pressure. Who knew late-night snacking could help with all of that?!
Other Reasons a Banana Before Bed is Good for Sleep
Bananas are also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber, according to Amerisleep. The site also claims that bananas can "aid in weight loss, reduce swelling, and increase white blood cell production," and that the fruit is high in antioxidants.
The high levels of potassium in bananas can also act as a muscle relaxant. And, since a high magnesium diet is also linked to lower stress levels, the magnesium in bananas can help with insomnia, one of the most well-known sleep disorders, which can be caused by stress.
What Other Foods Are Good to Eat Before Bed?
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Eating bananas before bed is likely a better option than a heavy meal, so if sleepiness is your goal, you should consider breaking out the peanut butter and one of the fruits and chowing down before you do the rest of your nighttime routine.
However, tart cherry juice, chamomile tea, sweet potatoes, beans, and milk are also considered foods and drinks that can get you a better night's sleep. Good luck!
