We all love a little snack before bed. And for those of us who are health conscious, sometimes that can be a little fruit – maybe even a banana.
What if we told you that those bananas might be the reason for your nightmares?
Although they are good for your health and contain a lot of potassium, Sleepjunkie claim Eating them too close to bedtime can contribute to a restless night’s sleep and even cause vivid dreams and nightmares.
Although bananas contain about 27 mg of magnesium per banana – a mineral often used as a sleep aid – it is sometimes the banana’s high melatonin content that is responsible for nighttime anxiety, according to experts.
Bananas provide up to 26% of the recommended daily intake of melatonin. However, the high levels of melatonin just before bedtime can lead to sleep problems.
However, the experts at Slumber Yard point out that vivid dreams are likely only to occur in people who already produce enough melatonin naturally or who take melatonin supplements.
In addition to vivid dreams, too much melatonin can also cause dizziness, headaches and even restlessness.
Sleep experts say that eating too much melatonin-rich fruit can leave you feeling groggy the next day after a restless night.
What should you eat instead?
For a restful night’s sleep, some sliced turkey can be just the thing, as it contains the amino acid tryptophan, which increases melatonin production (but not in too high amounts, as this can cause nightmares).
And if you are trying to increase your protein intake for your workout, it is believed that the protein in turkey can promote fatigue as it Evidence to say that consuming moderate amounts of protein before bedtime is associated with better sleep quality.
Walnuts and milk are also a great snack before bed. And IIf you like fruits, you can choose kiwi because of its sleep-promoting properties.
In a four-week study, 24 adults ate two kiwis each night one hour before bedtime. At the end of the study, participants fell asleep 42% faster than participants who had not eaten anything before bed.
The proof is in the (kiwi) pudding!
