I JUST CANT SLEEP! I JUST WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!
The familiar pained cries of those who either cannot get to sleep or stay asleep. It really is frustrating when you know you need to sleep, but you just cant achieve it.
Many things can be linked to insomnia, but what you may not know is that one of the potential causes of your sleep issues may actually be diet. Yep – food.
So let’s look at just a few of those nutrients and foods, and some foods that contain those nutrients.
Magnesium – bananas, yoghurt, fish, grains, dark leafy greens
Potassium – sweet potato, banana, avocado, dried apricots
Tryptophan – dates, cheese, meats, bananas, brown rice, eggs
Vitamin D – get a little sun each day – without being covered up or coated in sunscreen. Remember though, be smart about your exposure.
Sugar – stay away from this before bed (no, you don’t need that last biscuit or chocolate left in the tin) – refined sugary foods can really mess with your blood sugar, leading to messed up sleep patterns.
Caffeine – stimulant effect (just like sugar) – you are unlikely to be sleeping well after that sugary tea or cup of coffee in the evening.
So, why not consider perhaps a banana or some milk 30-60mins before going off to bed?
Still unable to get a good night’s sleep? Book an appointment and I can look into how your sleep can be improved.