Natural Sleeping Aids In Your House

We should be sleeping 1/3 of our lifetime on a daily basis. Some people fail to get their qouta of sleep (7-8 hours) and they would try any thing that helps them get sleep. There are many approaches to solve this problem, yet many of them bring even bigger and more serious problems. In this hub we will discuss the safest natural aids of sleeping, i.e., foods.

I do not like the use of herbs that can not be included in our food and drink, because the experience about drink and food use and effects are shared by all the people on the planet earth.

Examples of herbs claimed to have a sleep inducing effects are, Valerian and Kava kava. Use of Valerian may be associated with headache or "hangouts". Some studies reveal that Valerian impairs thinking for a period of time (what is the mechanism do you think? deterioration?).

Kava kava is now considered unsafe. Its use is suggested to cause liver toxicity, according to European reports of more than 20 cases of cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver failure.

Amino acid Tryptophan is the precursor of Serotonin (a neurotransmitter that induces sleep), as shown by lab experiments. Destruction of parts of the brain that housed nerve cells containing Serotonin, could produce total insomnia.

Use of Tryptophan doses geiven in the supplements developed a syndrome with  features of the disease "scleroderma". These features include skin tightening, pain in the joints, muscle aches and weakness.

Why don't we seek Tryptphan in our foods like turkey, nuts, beans, eggs, and milk.

There is another amino acid called Arginine pyroglutamate which may not help one goes to sleep but it may keeps him from waking up during night.

Are you still not convinced that foods can get you the sleep you need? just try it, make a sleeping snack or drink 1 hour or so before you go to bed. Consider other aspects like digestion and calories (make it 200-250 calories), and include 1 or more from the list below.

The list contains foods that are rich of either, Serotonin, Tryptophan, Melatonin or Magnesium which by itself induces sleep.Get your Serotonin and melatonin hormones, and Magnesium from your food and enjoy calm, deep and solid sleep.

Bananas

They are the nature's gift of all physiological sleep inducers, Serotonin, Melatonin and Magnesium. Another advantage is their versatile ways of eating as a whole, smoothie or juice.

Warm Milk

Milk contains Tryptophan, Vitamin B complex, Calcium, and carbohydrates that are all needed for bichemical conversion of Tryptophan into Serotonin. To Maximize the benefit you can add 1 teaspoon of bees honey.

Honey

It is traditionally used for hundreds of years to aid sleeping, added to milk or herbal teas. It contains free glucose which turns off Orexin (a recently discovered neurotransmitter that is related to alertness).

PureePotatoes

It is baked potatoes which are mashed with milk. It is helpful for tryptophan metabolism in general. You can add some nuts or garlic cloves.

Fried Liver

Although it is not so convenient as a snack yet it is very powerful sleep inducer (I know it myself). You slice the liver into small slices, fry it in a vegetable oil, add 4-5 garlic cloves, some vinegar, chillis if you like, make a sandwich using whole wheat bread, 1/2 an hour and you can not resist sleeping

Turkey

If you asked about the reason of all those thanksgiving naps, it is the Tryptophan content in the turkey which is the highest known one. You need some carbohydrates to utilize tryptophan, use a turkey slice and whole-wheat bread and go to sleep after a while.

Whole-Wheat Bread:

Use it with turkey, liver, or honey, it sends Tryptophan into your brain to convert it to Serotonin to begin yawning and preparing for retiring.

Almonds

You get the Tryptophan you need with Magnesium as a bonus to relax your muscles and fell more sleepy. You can add it to what suits you of the list.

Oatmeal

Another physiological aid of sleep is Melatonin which is very abundant in Oatmeal. With honey and milk,it is a perfect snack before bed.

Chamomile Tea

It is caffeine-free, good for your your digestive system, and good relaxing tea. Is there any thing that prevents drinking it before sleep?