Besides the homey warmth of this true comfort food, milk has loads of B vitamins that reduce anxiety and improve mood. For instance, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) raises serotonin levels to perk you up.
Think green with matcha milk and its relaxing L-theanine
A cup of antioxidant-rich matcha milk before bed can have positive effects on your anxiety levels, metabolism , and overall health. To top it off, L-theanine raises serotonin, GABA, and dopamine levels, which can benefit sleep quality and help you relax .
Like a cup of hot tea, warm milk is soothing. Milk also boasts tryptophan, a key ingredient in making serotonin. “The milk sugars, like all carbohydrates, act on serotonin in the brain,” Diekman said.
Studies show that chamomile can help with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. While many of the studies on herbal supplements for anxiety are limited, the results are promising. You can find many of these (and other) supplements in capsule (pill) form. Many people also drink herbal teas to help them relax.
Another large study found people who drink five cups or more of water per day were at lower risk of depression and anxiety. In comparison, drinking less than two cups per day doubles the risk. This link was less noticeable for anxiety alone (although feelings of depression and anxiety often influence each other).
Certain compounds in milk — specifically tryptophan and melatonin — may help you fall asleep. Tryptophan is an amino acid found in a variety of protein-containing foods. It plays an important role in the production of the neurotransmitter known as serotonin ( 6 ).
According to the National sleep foundation, tryptophan plays a key role in helping your body produce seratonin, which can reduce anxiety. If your mind is racing when it's on your pillow instead of dreaming, the tryptophan in milk can help your body release serotonin, allowing your mind to relax and slip into sleep.
Benefits Your Emotional and Mental Health
Foods rich in vitamin D, C, and the B vitamins, like milk, help keep your digestive system – and your brain happy. This can lead to improved emotional and mental well-being.
A little anxiety is fine, but long-term anxiety may cause more serious health problems, such as high blood pressure (hypertension). You may also be more likely to develop infections. If you're feeling anxious all the time, or it's affecting your day-to-day life, you may have an anxiety disorder or a panic disorder.
The B-vitamins in bananas, like folate and vitamin B6, are key to the production of serotonin, which can help improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
Blueberries
When we're anxious and stressed, our bodies crave vitamin C to help repair and protect our cells, and blueberries are packed full of it. Small but mighty, blueberries are bursting with antioxidants and vitamin C which have been shown to provide anxiety relief.
Additionally, lower dairy and calcium intake are associated with higher perceived stress [26,29,37] and higher levels of other negative mental health measures, such as anxiety and negative mood [23,26,27].
α-Lactalbumin, a minor constituent of milk, is one protein that contains relatively more tryptophan than most proteins. Acute ingestion of α-lactalbumin by humans can improve mood and cognition in some circumstances, presumably owing to increased serotonin.
Also, there is no association between dairy products and stress symptoms. This association was significant among men and women and high-fat and low-fat products in the total adjusted stratified analysis models.
Tryptophan and melatonin
Your two best friends for a restful night. Milk (and other dairy products) are a really good source of tryptophan. It's an amino acid that can help promote sleep, so it can come in particularly handy especially if you're used to tossing and turning before finally getting off to sleep.
Milk contains tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps us sleep better. Tryptophan converts into serotonin, the hormone that gives you pleasure. Serotonin also increases the amount of melatonin in your body and melatonin is the hormone responsible for good sleep.
While there is no specific study that analyzes any variance between drinking warm or cold milk before bed, it's generally accepted that warm milk can be more calming than cold milk.