I think we’ve all witnessed insomnia at some stage in our lives, whether it’s a regular occurrence or periodically.
That desire to sleep, but lack of ability to do so, is like torture. You stare at the ceiling as you feel yourself getting more awake while the clock ticks by. But your lifestyle leading up to bedtime could well be the cause of what keeps you wide awake at night. And food plays an important factor in that.
We all know how important sleep is, and we all need it to function like a human rather than a zombie. Consistently going without a solid nights sleep is going to have adverse affects on your health, both mentally and physically. You’re unable to focus, you feel sluggish and here is when bad habits sidle their way in i.e.: reaching for unhealthy foods and drinks to power us through. Vices such as caffeine, energy drinks and nicotine are huge no-no’s. They may seem like a quick fix short term, but they do nothing for your health long term. Water is always the best thing to reach for, if we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 1000 times! While it doesn’t kill a craving right off the bat, your body will learn to embrace how water effects your system in every way.
The modern age has brought with it some pretty poor lifestyle habits. While many of us would be lost without our electronic devices during the day, at night we should make a conscious effort to switch them off. One exception: I use an app called Sleep Cycle to help my quality of sleep. Sleep Cycle monitors your sleep pattern during the night so that the next day you can analyze how well you slept. Unlike that harsh alarm clock that has you bolting up as soon as its shrill ring goes off, Sleep Cycle works to gently wake you up during your lightest sleep phase, ensuring you have a softer awakening the next morning.
Try to develop a routine that you follow every night. Your body will begin to take note that this is you shutting down for the evening, and your body will begin to unwind with you, making sleep easier. Meditation, reading and journaling before you go to sleep is a great way to unwind.
Foods to avoid: Greasy or fat filled foods, red meat, sugary foods, raw onions, hot peppers, spicy foods, veggies, dried fruits, oats, peppermints, dark chocolate, fizzy drinks, green tea, caffeine and alcohol.
Foods to eat: Spinach, coconut oil. walnuts, almonds, kale, hummus, bananas, kiwi fruit, cherries, chamomile and passion flower tea.
1. Turmeric Latte
You can sip on this golden tonic any time of the day but most importantly before bed. The coconut oil in this latte works to stabilize blood sugar which is great for anyone that suffers from insomnia. This latte will have you sleeping like a baby.
Get the recipe here.
2. Sweet Cherry Blast
This drink might look bright and vibrant but make this a few hours before bed and it will set your system in gear for a restful slumber time. Cherries are super high in melatonin, which helps control our sleep cycles, so they’re the real start. But cherries can be somewhat tart, so there’s a few other goodies mixed in. The bananas have high levels of magnesium which is a calming mineral, whereas honey has been used as a natural sleeping aid since …forever.
Get the recipe here.
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