We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. Without it, we lose focus, become irritable, and otherwise fail to operate at our peak performance. It’s part of the “fuel” we need each day to function properly.
But we have all had problems, at one time or another, getting to sleep and staying asleep. One of the ways we can avoid these problems is to change the way we eat, especially before we go to bed.
Most people start the day with a cup of coffee or tea. We seek to glean that “jump start” in the mornings by ingesting these popular caffeinated drinks. They help us to get the day going and pick us back up when we hit the energy speed bumps that traditionally happen at 10am, 2pm and 4pm.
But consuming coffee or tea – or any number of soft drinks that contain caffeine – after 4pm risks the danger of keeping us from falling asleep and disrupting our sleep throughout the night.
In fact, medical professionals recommend ceasing all caffeine consumption for four to six hours before attempting to fall asleep otherwise we risk experiencing a diminished sleep quality.
One thing we can do is to consume foods that produce the hormones tryptophan and serotonin, which promote sleep and recovery. Foods high in carbohydrates and magnesium are beneficial to producing these hormones.
Some of these foods include:
- Sweet Potatoes
- Beets
- Seeds and nuts (almonds, walnuts)
These simple changes to the way we eat and drink during the day can help us all to get to sleep faster and experience deep sleep when we do. To wit, the best part of waking up is doing so after a great night’s sleep!
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To learn more about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep, “like” our Facebook Page and schedule an appointment with Dr. Barbee of Seaside Spine, Destin by calling (850) 460-2362 TODAY.