Even before the pandemic, sleep had already been a challenge to many. Now that there is almost no distinction between work and rest, some find it more difficult to go to bed and clock in the recommended hours for sleep. Snacking on these foods might just help correct one’s circadian rhythm.

1. Image source: healthline.com
Snack on these: Foods that promote sleep
Even before the pandemic, sleep had already been a challenge to many. Now that there is
almost no distinction between work and rest, some find it more difficult to go to bed and
clock in the recommended hours for sleep. Snacking on these foods might just help correct
one’s circadian rhythm.
Walnuts are packed with nutrients that
help promote sleep such as potassium,
magnesium, calcium, and folate. High in
melatonin, walnuts have been linked to
improving sleep, says Dr. Lisa M.
Cannon. Yogurt, another food rich in
calcium, helps process amino acids and
hormones such as tryptophan and
melatonin, both known to aid sleep. Right
along the alley of calcium-rich foods
is kale, which helps sleep hormones
becoming more effective.
With a high glycemic index, white
rice offers a natural increase in insulin and
blood sugar levels, helping tryptophan
work in one’s brain with speed.Poultry such as chicken and turkey contain tryptophan, an
amino acid known to help the body produce serotonin and melatonin. Honey maintains the
kind of glucose that reduces orexin, a neurotransmitter that aids alertness. Snacking
on bananasduring the day can help keep one in bed all through the night as the fruit contains
potassium, tryptophan, and magnesium.
Dr. Lisa M. Cannon mentions
that lettuce and lettuce seed oil promote
sleep due to their n-butanol fraction,
particularly in lactucin, a compound it
carries. For some sweet treats, consider
snacking on cherries as the fruit is high in
sleep-regulating compounds such as
serotonin, tryptophan, melatonin, and
potassium.

2. Image source: thejuicebar.live
Dr. Lisa M. Cannon is a pulmonologist with
more than 15 years of experience in her field.
Her passion for pulmonology and critical care
led her to her own medical practice in New
Jersey. She earned her medical degree from
New York College of Medicine and fellowship
in sleep medicine, pulmonary disease, and
critical care from Mount Sinai Hospital. For
more updates from Dr. Cannon, head over to
this blog.