Saturday, Oct 1, 2011Tips For Better Sleep – Let’s Talk Food!

God bless the inventor of sleep, the cloak that covers all men’s thoughts, the food that cures all hunger . . . the balancing weight that levels the shepherd with the king and the simple with the wise.” ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Do you ever find yourself staring at the ceiling at night, wondering why in the world you can’t fall asleep?  Feeling cursed by the Sleep Gods? It’s entirely possible that your intake of certain foods isn’t sitting too easily in your digestive track. This list of foods that help you sleep is part of our tips for better sleep.

You may love garlic, chilies, cayenne pepper and other intensely-flavored spices, but it might be too much for your system to process right before bedtime.

You may have eaten too much right before retiring.  Try making lunch your largest meal of the day so that you have plenty of time to digest it before you hit the sheets.

We all get told to “eat your vegetables” but the ones that have a bad reputation for causing a lot of gas – cauliflower, beans, Brussels sprouts and broccoli – should be eaten mid day with plenty of time to process.

Foods That Help You Sleep

Is the myth of a glass of warm milk before bed true? Yes, but mostly because of the routine of it. Psychological factors are also important.

A small, high-carbohydrate snack with a soothing drink (like warm milk) can help you get to sleep, and here are some suggestions:

• Air popped popcorn
• Warm tea with milk and honey
• Angel food cake with berries
• A bowl of cereal with milk
• A handful of pretzels
• A small baked potato with mild salsa
• A piece of fruit
• A few pieces of crystallized ginger

More Tips for Better Sleep

Are you a speed eater? If you relax and eat more slowly, you’ll swallow less air and avoid stomach distress.

Keep alcohol consumption within two hours of your bedtime, and keep the amount to 4 ounces. You’ll sleep like a baby.

Caffeine stays in our systems for a long time. Keep the amount you consume reasonable and not close to bedtime.

Resting well (I’m talking about six to eight hours of sleep every night) and keep you feeling healthy and energetic.  Breathing deeply, setting aside your worries of the day, saying a little prayer, thinking about your loved ones – all these tips for better sleep will also help to launch you into la-la land. Sweet dreams!

“My philosophy from day one is that I can sleep better at night if I can improve an individual’s knowledge about food and wine, and do it on a daily basis.” ~ Emeril Lagasse