What to drink tonight for better sleep

By MiNDFOOD

What to drink tonight for better sleep
Rest easy with these comforting brews.

We all know the detrimental effects caffeine can have on our sleep patterns, but do you know what soothing brews help to calm and ready our body and mind for sleep?

Most experts will agree that 2pm – or any time after lunch – seems to be the perfect cut-off time for caffeine. This provides ample time for the stimulating substance to be removed from our system, and allows our bodies to enter into our natural sleep and energy cycle.

By avoiding caffeine, as well as alcohol later in the afternoon and into the evening, you can minimise sleep disruptions and assist in slipping into a restorative and restful slumber.

What you drink before you sleep can also have an effect on how easily you fall asleep.

Try these soothing cups to help with your slumber tonight.

Cherry Juice

The sour stuff – not the sweetened ‘drinks’ that come from concentrate or syrup, we mean the real deal when it comes to reaping the benefits of cherries.

Tart cherries (not maraschino) are one of the few natural sources of melatonin, the hormone that helps your body sleep, and is responsible for regulating the body’s internal clock. Researchers believe that their potency is due to a combination of melatonin and anthocyanin, which assists the sleep-wake cycle.

Drinking cherry juice in the evening may help promote better sleep.

Warm Milk

It’s something our mother’s would give us, and their mother’s would give them – a warm cup of milk to sooth the mind and calm the body.

The sleep-inducing properties are thought to be because of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan, present in cows milk.

Sipping on a cup of this Calming Almond Milk, 90 minutes before bed can help you fall asleep sooner and encourage less interruptions throughout the night, due to the high protein content from the almonds.

Chamomile Tea

Not only does drinking hot beverages help lull us to sleep, but chamomile in particular contains the chemical glycine, which acts to assist in our body’s natural relaxation process – almost with a mild sedative effect.

Looking for an extra boost before bedtime? Try these slumber-inducing foods. 

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