12 Snooze Worthy Recipes: The Ultimate Sleep Promoting Foods
Good sleep is like the holy grail of wellbeing. It’s the magical elixir that boosts your energy, sharpens your focus, enhances memory, keeps your mood in check, and even influences those late night cravings and your metabolism. However, what and when you eat can play a big role in how well you sleep.
How soon before bed should I eat?
It’s best to eat your last large meal 2-3 hours before bed to give your body time to digest. Digestion slows down at nighttime, meaning that undigested food in your stomach can leave you feeling uncomfortable and disrupt your sleep.
What about night time nibbles?
It’s best not to eat too close to bedtime as it can disrupt your body clock and sleep quality. However if you do need a snack, Having a small healthy snack at least 30 mins before bed is okay. Try to avoid any foods high in sugar as they can give you a bit of an energy rush. Remember, we are trying to wind down and do relaxing things that make us sleepy before bed.
Best Foods to Promote sleep
Fill up on these foods for dinner to help induce some good zzz’s:
Foods High in Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral found in legumes, nuts, seeds, green veggies and milk products that has shown to relax your muscles and improve sleep quality.
Try some of these recipes:
Foods High in Melatonin
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone which helps us sleep. Melatonin is found in eggs, salmon, tuna, nuts, oats, milk, yoghurt, rice, cherries, grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, mushrooms.
Try some of these recipes:
Sesame Crusted Salmon and Soba Noodles
Foods High in Protein
There is one specific protein called ‘tryptophan,’ which is of importance here. Tryptophan helps your body make more melatonin and promotes sleep. Tryptophan can be found in turkey, chicken, eggs, milk, yoghurt, nuts, seeds, soy products and even bananas.
Try some of these recipes:
Thai Chicken Cashew Nut Stirfy
With the perfect blend of timing and choice, these sleep promoting recipes offer more than just a delicious meal – they provide a nourishing dose of vitamins and minerals to support good physical and mental health. So, whip up these delightful dishes, savour every bite, and nourish your body with the goodness it deserves. Here’s to vibrant health and restful nights ahead!
