Insomnia, Begone: These 3 Foods Will Help You Sleep Better

If you're someone who has trouble sleeping, you probably already know of a few tried and tested tricks for falling asleep faster and getting a better night's sleep - like keeping away your electronics and cutting out caffeine a few hours before bedtime. But sometimes, preventive measures just aren't good enough. Luckily for you, there are foods that you can eat before bedtime that will prove way better than counting sheep! Foods with high amounts of sugar, unsurprisingly, don't make the cut, so do make sure to steer clear of those. If you've been feeling restless and unable to fall asleep at night, try eating any of these foods a few hours before bedtime.

1. Honey

Add a teaspoon (or two) of honey either to a glass of milk or some herbal tea before you head to bed. The glucose released from the consumed honey will help lower the levels of orexin in your body. Orexin, also known as hypocretin, is a neuropeptide that regulates arousal, wakefulness, and appetite. Orexin release is inhibited by glucose.

2. Bananas

Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. In addition, they also contain the amino acid tryptophan which is a precursor for serotonin and melatonin. All these factors make the fruits basic nature slightly sedative.

3. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is widely regarded as a mild tranquilliser. Drinking chamomile tea has been associated with an increase in urinary levels of glycine, an amino acid that has been known to act as a nerve relaxant.