How Mealtimes Affect Your Sleep
Written by clive on 1:35 AMMealtimes can be scheduled to reprogram your body to feel sleepy. Eat at regular times, and you will get into a routine that can help signal sleep time. If you eat a heavy meal before bedtime, you may find it difficult to relax enough to go to sleep, since your digestive system has to work overtime. For this reason, you'll want to have dinner at least three or four hours before retiring. Space out your other meals at regular intervals, leaving enough time for you to be hungry for an early dinner. If you need a snack before bedtime, drink warm milk.
Pas studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of L-tryptophan, an amino acid found in such common foods as meat, dairy products, beans, and leafy green vegetables. Before 1989, supplemental doses of L-tryptophan were advised for those suffering from insomnia. The thought was that the amount of L-tryptophan found in common foods was too small to have a significant effect on your sleep. However, the FDA removed L-tryptophan from the market after it was found to contain toxic contaminants from the manufacturing process. Subsequent studies indicate that large amounts of L-tryptophan taken separately can still pose serious health hazards. Since no one is known to have suffered from an old-fashioned glass of warm milk, it may be best to trust mom's advice and return to this natural source of the drug. Consult a doctor for the latest findings before partaking of any L-tryptophan supplements.
L-tryptophan-rich foods eaten before bed can help promote restful sleep, such as turkey, milk, tuna, eggs, fish, almonds, bananas or peanut butter. And ice cream!
OUTWITTING INSOMNIA, ELLEN MOHR CATALANO
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