Yes, you read that right. There really are foods that can actually help you sleep better.

Getting a good night’s sleep is not just so you can get a well-deserved relaxing shut eye. It is something that is required to stabilize both your mental and physical health and the quality of your waking life.

Sleep can do so by reducing any chance of you contracting certain chronic illnesses and enabling your nervous and digestive system to function properly. A study has revealed that those who do not get proper sleep on a regular basis are most likely to suffer from health diseases.

Now, it’s highly recommended by experts that you get at least 9 hours of sleep undisturbed. But many people seldom get enough sleep within that time span, if at all.

To find a remedy to this problem, you can strategize by changing your diet and consuming sleep promoting healthy foods.

Here, we go through five healthy snacks that can help you achieve the snoozing you deserve.

Tart Cherry Juice

Tart cherries on their own contain a significant quantity of melatonin which is a hormone used as a sleep aid supplement by many people. It can help maintain control in your sleeping cycle while enhancing your quality of sleep.

Melatonin-containing cherries will allow you fall asleep more quickly and enjoy a restful slumber.  This is according to a study made in the European Journal of Nutrition. A study conducted by Louisiana State University has also found that tart cherry juice helps adults who are suffering from insomnia to sleep better.

Oatmeal

Oats are known to consist of substantial quantities of the amino acid tryptophan, which your body can break down to make serotonin, a happy hormone as well as melatonin, the sleeping hormone.

The research from the Whole Grains Council has determined that both the brain and the body experiences stress relief and better relaxation once you’ve had a delicious bowl of oatmeal. This in turn sustains your sleep cycle. What more needs to be said? Just dig in!

Pineapples

This is the most surprising addition to this list considering that pineapples are only known for their high quantities of natural sugar. However the fruit also contains enough melatonin hormones to increase your sleeping capacity. This is according to the study by Journal of Pineal Research. Now that’s one more reason to look forward to a chunk of this sweet treat.

Walnuts

You may not have known this before, but walnuts are in fact rich with tryptophan, an amino acid that produces both serotonin and melatonin. The melatonin that is absorbed into your system from the walnuts is unique, given how it increases your sleeping potential as proved by the study from the Nutrition Journal.

Chamomile tea

This special tea acts like a sedative for those dealing with constantly interrupted sleep. The American Chemical Society has found in its research that the tea increases the glycine chemical that can calm your nerves and relax your muscles in a natural way.

This diet is important for creating a chemical reaction in your body which is tied to your sleep according to Chris Winter, M.D., sleep specialist in Charlottesville, Virginia. He says,

“Sleep and wakefulness are controlled by a series of chemical reactions in the body”

So, sip away!