Bananas
Bananas are a great snack before bed because they contain a lot of magnesium and potassium that work well together to relax muscles. They also contain a lot of vitamin B6, which helps produce serotonin, the feel-good hormone, and melatonin, the sleep hormone. Bananas also have a healthy dose of the amino acid tryptophan to further support the production of serotonin and melatonin. All of that is perfect for soothing sugar cravings, making bananas an excellent choice when going to bed.
Almonds
Almonds are a great snack to help you get through 6-8 hours of sleep because they’re rich in healthy fats that take a while to digest. Especially if you exercise regularly, sleep is when your muscles are working to rebuild, and they need fuel to do that efficiently. Almonds, like bananas, also contain magnesium and tryptophan to help relax the body and promote sleep.
Honey
Have you ever felt like you can’t fall asleep until you have a little sweet taste? Turns out, a bit of sugar at bedtime really helps your brain use sleep more efficiently. A teaspoon of honey is a great choice because it’s a natural sweetener that allows tryptophan to easily enter the brain, thereby stimulating the release of melatonin and turning off the production of orexin, a brain alertness hormone.
Oats
Oats are a carbohydrate that, when digested, increase insulin levels in the blood. That allows tryptophan to enter the brain and convert to serotonin. A small bowl of oatmeal before bed can activate this necessary process, but note that if you eat a lot of protein along with a carbohydrate, this process will be blocked. If you’re on a high-protein diet, low-carbohydrate and having trouble sleeping, this could be the reason.
Kiwi
Kiwis are both tasty and sweet, and they’re great at managing cravings. Kiwis contain a reasonable amount of folate and potassium, as well as vitamins C and K. Eating kiwi can also help maintain digestive health, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol due to their high fiber and carotenoid antioxidant content. And of course, kiwis also provide all-important serotonin.