Cherries are known for being one of the best foods for sleep as they naturally contain melatonin. Snacking on cherries or drinking cherry juice can help promote longer, deeper sleep.
Foods with excessive water content: Foods with excessive water content such as watermelon and cucumber should be avoided. In short, eating these foods close to sleep means sleeping with a full bladder. This will pick you up to go to the bathroom at midnight. This may affect the quality of your sleep.
Cherries. Cherries and cherry juice contain high levels of melatonin, a hormone in the brain that controls your sleep regulation. One study even shows that drinking tart cherry juice could improve sleep in people who suffer from insomnia.
Hot or cold oatmeal might help prepare your body for sleep and keep you full throughout the night. Oats contain magnesium as well as melatonin, the sleep hormone. Consider making a batch of overnight oats with dried fruits and seeds for a simple nighttime snack option.
Apples are a good source of potassium and vitamin B6 which both aid in sleep. In addition, apples are a great source of vitamin C with about 10 mg per large apple. Vitamin C helps you sleep better because it helps manage your blood sugar, lower blood pressure and even improve your breathing.
Nevertheless, eating 1–2 medium kiwis before bed may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Kiwis are rich in serotonin and antioxidants, both of which may improve sleep quality when eaten before bed.
An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but a banana at night can help you sleep tight. Next time you're up late, battling a pesky combination of hunger and restlessness, reach for a banana before bed as a healthy late-night snack.
Heavy Foods
Meals which seem to weigh on your stomach actually take longer to digest. Fatty, cheesy and fried foods can lead to indigestion and keep you up at night. Avoid things like cheeseburgers, fries, fried foods and large steaks late in the day.
Good snack-friendly foods to have available if you get hungry include fruits, nuts, berries, plain yogurt and cottage cheese.
Turns out it is rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps the body and brain relax and regulate melatonin. It's also naturally high in tryptophan. Blueberries are beneficial because they are loaded with antioxidants that protect us from stress caused by sleep disorders and help support brain health and memory.
Grapes and goji berries are both high in melatonin. The concentration of melatonin does vary based on the variety of grapes, the growing conditions, and the climate, but red grapes tend to be the best source.
The vitamin C and melatonin in strawberries both promote healthy sleep. Plus, according to the National Sleep Foundation, the antioxidants in strawberries can help counteract the oxidative stress caused by sleep disorders.
As per a few studies, eating fruits before sleeping can lead to a spike in the level of sugar, which can further lead to insomnia rather than inducing sleep and making you feel relaxed.
Snacking Right Before Bed
The Fix: Make sure you have your bedtime snack no later than 30 minutes before you turn in, says Kleinschrodt. A few apple slices and some peanut butter (topped with cinnamon if you're feeling fancy) should do the trick to keep blood sugar stable and late-night cravings at bay.
The best fruits to eat at night for weight loss are melons, cantaloupe, and honeydew. These have good water content and are less in calories. Therefore, apart from satisfying your sweet tooth, they will also help in losing weight.
Plus bananas can provide a great boost to your brain. While many people think of bananas as a way to start your day, eating one around lunch can give you the energy you need to power through and have a strong afternoon.
Make a fruit salad with a variety of fruits, such as apples, grapefruit, and bananas, to incorporate more sources of potassium and vitamin C before bedtime. If you are feeling a bit hungry, apples are a great low GI snack. Low GI foods like apples may help regulate blood sugar levels and improve sleep quality.
If you eat apples at night or in the evening, this pro-digestive fruit can turn against you and load on your intestinal functions. This means apples at night will produce gas and make you severely uncomfortable during the wee hours.
Dairy products such as Greek Yogurt contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which may help you to feel drowsier before heading to bed. After you eat foods rich in tryptophan, your body converts it into two hormones, serotonin and melatonin, which may promote a restful night's sleep.
Several of the most popular natural sleep aids include melatonin, GABA, tryptophan, 5-HTP, CBD and THC, valerian root and lavender.
Eggs and fish are higher melatonin-containing food groups in animal foods, whereas in plant foods, nuts are with the highest content of melatonin. Some kinds of mushrooms, cereals and germinated legumes or seeds are also good dietary sources of melatonin.
The bottom line. Eating bananas before bed may help you get a good night's sleep. Bananas are rich in magnesium, potassium, tryptophan, vitamin B6, carbs, and fiber, all of which may improve sleep quality via different mechanisms.