Sleep and your diet

We can put up with occasional bad night sleep without noticing any ill-effects, but if poor sleep goes on for longer you may start feeling negative effects on your health. The anxiety over being unable to sleep can make you prone to insomnia.

Some natural chemicals in the body promote sleep and diet also plays a part. Drinking coffee, tea and cola drinks, or eating bar of plain chocolate after dinner can keep you awake.

What should we eat before going to sleep?

Never go to bed hungry and never go to bed with full stomach. Rich or very spicy meals can also cause indigestion, heartburn or flatulence.

Best food to encourage better sleep:

• turkey meat

• almonds and walnuts

• kiwi fruit

• camomile tea with honey

• fatty fish

You should eat complex carbs and skip white, refined ones. Having a cup of warm milk and some fruit will help too.

Restless legs

Another condition that can interfere with sleep is restless legs, when there are intermittent involuntary leg movements when lying in bed. The most common cause of this is iron deficiency, so iron-rich foods such as pulses, dried apricots, dark green leafy vegetables and nuts are recommended.

To find out more or discuss your health problem in private please free to get in touch with me today.

Alternatively, find out more about the nutritional services I offer and find your way to better health.