One of the best ways to stay healthy is to get plenty of sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Here are some whole, plant-based foods that will help you sleep better:
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collard greens, and Swiss chard are rich in calcium, and according to a Medical News Today article, calcium is directly related to our sleep cycles. Researchers reported in the European Neurology Journal that calcium levels are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. According to William Sears, MD, calcium helps our brain manufacture melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. Lack of calcium interferes with sleep.
Whole grains are rich in magnesium, and a diet that’s high in magnesium has been associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep, as was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota.
Bananas and chick peas are both good source of vitamin B6, which is essential for producing melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.
Today I’ve had kale, banana, and brown rice (a whole grain), and now I’m ready to go get a good night’s sleep!
Resources
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collard greens, and Swiss chard are rich in calcium, and according to a Medical News Today article, calcium is directly related to our sleep cycles. Researchers reported in the European Neurology Journal that calcium levels are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. According to William Sears, MD, calcium helps our brain manufacture melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. Lack of calcium interferes with sleep.
Whole grains are rich in magnesium, and a diet that’s high in magnesium has been associated with deeper, less interrupted sleep, as was proven in a study done by James Penland at the Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota.
Bananas and chick peas are both good source of vitamin B6, which is essential for producing melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.
Today I’ve had kale, banana, and brown rice (a whole grain), and now I’m ready to go get a good night’s sleep!
Resources