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Each and everyone of us have had our battle with sleepless nights. Tossing and turning not able to get comfortable and we wind up falling asleep only a few hours before we have to wake up. This can be caused by any number of things including; stress, diet, and most of all the quality of the mattress you lie down on each night.

As with every problem there are a number of solutions you can try and see which works best for you. Today we are going to discuss which foods you can include and exclude from you diet that you may find helping you fall asleep at bedtime.

The Correlation Between Food and Sleep

Most people don’t realize that there is an important link between what we eat and the energy we have throughout the day and our ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep inducing foods have natural vitamins and properties that help us relax and prepare our bodies for sleep. Tryptophan, an amino acid most famously known from our Thanksgiving Turkeys, is the prime contributor to helping calm our brains and relax our bodies to help us fall asleep and stay asleep. Our bodies convert Tryptophan into seratonin and melatonin, both aid in relaxation and sleepiness.

Best Foods for Sleep

In order to benefit from the sleep inducing qualities of Tryptophan you must include the right foods in your diet. Choose appropriate snacks, drinks, and meals throughout the day. A balance of proteins, carbohydrates and calcium generates the best results.

• Whole Grain Cereal with Milk
• Bowl of Oatmeal with Milk
• Peanut Butter Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread with a Glass of Milk
• Turkey Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread with a Glass of Milk
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookie with a Glass of Milk
• Apple with Cheese
• Yogurt with Granola
• Banana and Almonds
• Date or Bran Muffin with a Glass of Milk

All of these foods serve as an appropriate bedtime snack that will aid in you falling fast asleep and staying that way. Mix and match to fit your preferences and see which works best for you. Everyone has different bodies and some process things differently, so it is important to find out what is best for YOU!

It is not only important to choose an appropriate bedtime snack, but to eat the proper foods at dinnertime as well. Foods that are high in carbohydrates and small amounts of protein have been shown to have the best results and help induce a restful nights sleep

• Pasta Dishes with Cream-based sauces
• Seafood or Tuna Salad with Whole Wheat Crackers/Bread/Rolls
• Whole Wheat Pita Bread with Hummus or Cottage Cheese and Roasted Vegetables
• Baked Potato with Sour Cream and Cheese
• Turkey Pot Pie with Mashed Potatoes
• Eggs with Cheese

As diet plays a major role in how easily we fall asleep, our mattress plays an even larger one. Trying to get comfortable on an old, worn out mattress does you no good. Make sure your mattress is of great quality and under 8 years of age. As our mattress ages, it breaks down, absorbs and holds bacteria, dust, and other allergens that can interfere with our sleep.

At Mattresses For Less we have a massive inventory of name brand mattresses such as Serta, Simmons, Restonic, iComfort, ComforPedic, and BeautyRest. In addition, we are Houston’s Adjustable Bed Headquarters and have the largest selection of adjustable bases and mattresses in Texas.

Visit any one of our 5 Houston, Texas locations to lie down and test out the sleep set that will be most comfortable for you and our staff is prepared to assist you with our extensive knowledge and friendly customer service. Come see us today!