Do you remember when you were younger and your mom gave you glass of warm milk right before bed? This is something that mothers all over the world swear by. However, the question still stands, is the consumption of warm milk before bed simply a theory or is it a scientifically proven truth? As a matter of fact, eating dairy foods before bed can improve your sleep. Dairy is a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that your body converts to melatonin and serotonin (both of which are thought to induce sleep). Some other foods which contain tryptophan include bananas, oats, poultry and peanuts.

So now that we know that dairy is beneficial in promoting sleep, what are some of the foods we can consume before bed time? Basically, a light bedtime snack should consist of mostly carbohydrates with a small amount of protein. This particular combination increases the availability of tryptophan to the brain. A simple small bowl of oatmeal or cereal along with low fat milk will do the trick. You can also try eating a serving of yogurt sprinkled with granola. Another great light meal before bed is a sliced apple with a few slices of cheese. And for those of us who like a more hearty bedtime snack, half a bagel with peanut butter, cheese or deli will do the trick.

An important thing to remember when eating sleep promoting foods is to beware of too much protein. Yes there is such a thing, especially at night. Protein rich foods contain an amino acid known as tyrosine. This particular compound has the ability to stimulate brain activity when eaten in high amounts. So be sure to keep your nighttime snack light and enjoyable. So if you ever find yourself hungry before bed, don’t be afraid to eat one of these sleep promoting snacks.