5 Snacks That Will Help You Sleep Like A Baby, According To Nutritionists
Eating before bed gets a bad rap but there’s a darn good reason you should indulge on occasion—to help get more, and better, shuteye. Certain foods contain nutrients that can help relax your body and get you ready to enter a sleeping state, says Keri Glassman, RD.
Your goal isn’t to stuff yourself (indigestion, after all, will only keep you up all night) so keep your portions to around 150 to 200 calories, and time your snack sesh for an hour or two before you hit the sack. We asked a few pros for a few foods that give counting sheep a run for its money.
Trader Joe's Gone Bananas Chocolate-Covered Banana Slices
"Sweet and creamy bananas are a good source of melatonin, the hormone your brain secretes in response to darkness, which tells your body to snooze. Bananas’ potassium also helps stabilize your heartbeat." —Keri Glassman, RD, founder of nutritiouslife.com
Buy now: $2 for 20 slices, Trader Joe's stores
(Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The Body Clock Diet!)
Cheribundi Relax Tart Cherry Juice
"Cherries are Mother Nature’s sleeping beauties, since they’re naturally loaded with the sleep hormone melatonin." —Keri Glassman, RD
Buy now: $27 for 12 eight-ounce bottles, amazon.com
MORE: I Stopped Eating After 7 P.M. Every Night For A Month—Here's What Happened
KIND Sweet & Spicy Bar—Korean Chili
"This high-flavored almond bar is an excellent source of magnesium. Getting adequate amounts of this mineral supports proper muscle functioning and can be helpful for relaxing muscles—which ultimately may help you fall asleep easier." —Jackie Newgent, RDN, author of The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook, and spokesperson for KIND Snacks
Buy now: $5, target.com
Do these yoga poses before bed for a good night's sleep:
Lifeway Cherry Chocolate Kefir Cup
"Emerging research shows that probiotic-filled fermented dairy like kefir may help you conk out by reducing levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can fight sleep." —Karen Ansel, RD
Buy now: $2, lifewaykefir.com for store locations
MORE: The 7 WORST Foods To Eat At Night
Quinn Snacks Vermont Maple Microwave Kettle Corn
"Insufficient amounts of serotonin, the feel-good chemical that helps you relax, can intercept those zzzzs you’re trying to catch. Fiber-rich popcorn may help fuel the growth of serotonin-producing gut bacteria. And this one is a salty-sweet treat, too." —Karen Ansel, RD
Buy now: $9, amazon.com
The article 5 Snacks That Will Help You Sleep Like A Baby, According To Nutritionists originally appeared on Women’s Health.
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