Diet tips for a sound and refreshing sleep

07 September, 2012

Human beings are the only creatures who can interrupt or disturb their his normal sleep cycle knowingly. Other creatures like animals and birds sleep until their inner clock rouses them. The reason behind this interrupted and disturbed sleep can be the busy work schedule, shift duties, business meetings, a doctor's appointment, or a gripping novel or movie.

SLEEP IS very important but often a neglected aspect of health and aging. Shortening the time span of sleep can have long-term health consequences. So, to avoid this we need to have a good night's sleep. A good night's sleep provides you energy and you will feel refreshed the next morning and this will continue till the end of the day.

If you don't complete your sleep cycle in the night then you will feel drowsy in the morning. Our body mechanism is active when the sun is out, but after the sun sets, the body mechanism slows down and it requires rest, which is provided by sleep. About seven to eight hours of sleep is required to re-energies your body.

As sleep time decreases the stress levels increase, and this leads to the increase of cortisole levels. Cortisole is known as an anti-sleep hormone or stress hormone, as the cortisole level increases, it is stored in the body, and increases belly fat. This hormone also creates chronic to severe inflammations that leads to premature aging and early death.

There are certain foods that will help you to sleep better including cottage cheese, oats and milk.

Cottage cheese tops the list of diets for a sound and refreshing sleep, because it contains tryptophan. Tryptophan is an enzyme which is responsible for secreting serotonin, and it has a calming affect on your body. Presence of serotonin is very essential in your body to provide you a good night's sleep. Serotonin and melatonin are very essential to regulate the sleep cycle in your body.

Oats is also good food to provide a better sleep during the night. Oats are the kind of foods that release carbohydrates at a lower pace, so if you include oats in your diet then it will help to regulate your sleep in a long run, reported indiainteracts.

Drinking warm milk before sleeping helps to get a good night sleep. Warm milk taken as such has tryptophan content in it, and as it is warm, you will feel soothed after having it. At the same time, you have calcium present in it, which will immediately affect the serotonin neurotransmitter, and you will have a good night's sleep.