Bananas and popcorn actually help you get a better night's sleep

Did you know that the foods you eat have a lot to do with the quality of your sleep?   If your diet is high in refined sugar you may have more indigestion and insulin surges that interfere with the hormones that affect sleep.
 
Dr. Oz recommends eating low fat and high fiber foods for a better night's sleep.  It's also important not to eat late at night as your body and brain will be focusing on digesting food rather than resting.

Here are a couple of simple, tasty and nutritious treats to help you get the 7-8 hours of sleep that you need and deserve and that are are so critical to your health:

Bananas
Bananas have plenty of potassium and magnesium, which both help to relax your muscles to give you a peaceful night’s sleep. They also help to lower your blood pressure while you sleep. 




Popcorn with parmesan cheese
Try sprinkling your popcorn with parmesan cheese for a delicious treat before turning in for the night.  Dairy has tryptophan in it, which is a precursor to a sleep-inducing hormone, and the carbohydrates in the popcorn help your brain absorb tryptophan better.


I will be writing about more sleep friendly foods in future blog posts so stay tuned.  Meanwhile, sweet dreams!