Drinks That Help You Sleep

by | Mar 28, 2013 | Health Habits, Nutrition Support, Uncategorized

There are many drinks that can help you sleep. Some are natural and others man-made. For a drink to qualify as a sleeping aid, it has to have some key ingredients in it. This article spells out what those ingredients are and also lists out a few drinks that help you sleep.

What prevents a good sleep?

Stress, curiosity, over-indulgence! Stress can result from work, some unfinished business, anger, etc. We all live through it on a daily basis. The curious mind too will prevent you from sleeping. The curious mind is busy thinking and probably also wants to investigate some ideas so it will instruct you to pick up the newspaper or book or logon to the internet or whatever else will satisfy its curiosity.

Over-indulgence usually refers to your evening meal. Eat too much and you will have difficulty getting sleep. While there are drinks that help you sleep, if you are plagued by Stress, curiosity or over-indulgence, it does not matter how many gallons of these drinks you guzzle – you just won’t get sleep.

Key ingredients that help you sleep

  • Melatonin – There are some key ingredients that help you sleep and the most important of them is called melatonin. Melatonin is an antioxidant that helps regulate sleep.
  • Calcium or Potassium – it helps you relax.
  • Tryptophan – which the body converts into serotonin; a hormone that triggers sleep.
  • Theanine – an Amino acid which is a stress buster.

Drinks that help you sleep

Okay, so here’s our list of 5 drinks that contain one or more of the above ingredients all of which will help you get a good night’s sleep.

  1. Tart cherry juice (key sleep ingredient melatonin) – In the June 2010 publication of The Journal of Medicinal Food, they mention that consuming one 8-ounce serving of tart cherry juice roughly two hours before bedtime resulted in a quicker and better quality sleep.
  2. Lemon Balm Tea – made from lemon balm leaves (member of the mint family). The presence of Calcium helps your mind relax.  The tea is made by putting lemon balm leaves in boiling water. Avoid sugar as it will have the opposite effect.
  3. Low-fat, warm milk (key sleep ingredient tryptophan). Anything high-fat would amount to over-indulgence and the body has to spend time digesting it. So stick to low-fat, non-sweetened milk. Milk is warmed for that soothing effect as it goes down the throat. Warming does not in any way enhance its value.
  4. Decaffeinated Green Tea (key sleep ingredient theanine). Theanine is a stress buster and will help you mind relax.
  5. Pure Coconut Water (key sleep ingredient potassium and magnesium). Potassium and magnesium help your body relax. It also contains vitamins that help lower stress.

You can also help yourself by avoiding high calorie foods during your evening meals. No ice creams, pastries etc. These foods provide a healthy dose of instant energy. So instead of relaxing, your mind will go on a wild chase of anything and everything that comes its way. All the drinks that help you sleep will not be able to neutralize the ton of energy cruising through your veins.

If you liked this article, check out also the one listing foods that help you sleep well or the blog post with 7 tips to sleeping well.