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September 24, 2010 | Comments: 2

Sleep-Promoting Diets: What You Should Know

What should you eat and drink to get a better night’s sleep? Few foods or beverages have a clear-cut effect on sleep.

If you search online, you’ll find all sorts of “sleep-promoting” diets. Theories about food and sleep involve such factors as blood sugar levels, hormones, and various brain chemicals. High-carbohydrate foods are often suggested for sleep, because they are supposed to allow more tryptophan (an amino acid) to get into the brain; tryptophan is converted into the brain chemical serotonin, which helps promote sleep. In contrast, a high-protein diet supposedly has the opposite effect. A high-fat diet also tends to result in poorer sleep, at least according to one recent study.

Despite common beliefs about various foods and sleep—turkey or warm milk as sleep promoters, for example—research has come up with confusing and contradictory results. Foods (and meals) are complex mixes of nutrients that may have opposite effects on sleep, and the effects may vary from person to person, possibly for genetic reasons.

Here is some obvious advice if you’re having trouble sleeping:

• Don’t eat a large meal two to three hours before going to sleep. A full stomach can be uncomfortable and can promote heartburn. If spicy or fatty foods (or some other food) seem to cause nighttime heartburn, don’t eat them in the evening.

• Avoid, or at least limit, alcohol. It can help you fall asleep more quickly, but later it disrupts sleep, especially restorative deep sleep.

• Avoid caffeine for at least three hours before going to sleep. Some people may need to avoid it for eight hours before bedtime.

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