How does your diet stand up against sleep? Does it support it or sabotage it?Not sure how to sleep well naturally? I’ve got you covered with these healthy, calming green smoothies that are loaded with nutrients to help keep your tummy from rumbling in the night. And guess what, smoothies aren’t just for breakfast!. A new research says that a snack before bed might be a good thing. It gives your body a dose of healthy carbs to help with cellular renewal and melatonin for aid with natural sleep. These green smoothies that promote sleep will help us achieve our goal.
There are many reasons why we can’t get enough sleep. Many people do not realize how important sleep is. Instead, we may think of it as a waste of time. Time spent in bed asleep is time well spent. There are many very important things that the brain needs to do while asleep. These include forming memories and going through the day’s events.
Some of reasons the reasons we fail to get enough sleep is staying late in front of the computer or browsing on our mobile, the to-do list waiting to be done in the morning, skipping meals and eating late in the evening.These are just a few reasons why our brain stays alert and prevents us from falling asleep easily.
BEDTIME RITUALS THAT CAN HELP WITH PROMOTING BETTER SLEEP
- Do bedtime yoga or mild stretching but don’t do any excessive workouts because they your energy levels will go high and it will keep you alert and awake.
- Why not try a delicious bedtime smoothie with sleep-inducing ingredients to satisfy your cravings (will get to that in a minute)
- Quit screen time atleast 30 min before bedtime
- Avoid heavy meals that need a lot of time to digest
- Drink a cup of chamomile tea
- Have a light snack that contains proteins and carbs like a green smoothie that includes a banana
- wear earplugs to block out the noise
- Limit noise and create a calm environment
- Take a warm bath or shower, this will relax you and make you fall asleep naturally
- Sprinkling lavender essential oil on your pillow will help because of the calming effect that lavender produces.
Now on to the Green Smoothies That Promote Better Sleep
The Ingredients
Kale
contains all nine essential amino acids, including tryptophan. Which our body converts tryptophan into serotonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep/wake cycle. Serotonin, in turn, is used by the pineal gland to synthesize melatonin, the hormone related to a night of healthy sleep.
Kiwi
a fruit high in antioxidants (which recent studies have linked to better sleep) and serotonin, the hormone that helps initiate sleep and maintain it during the night.
Banana
contain the natural muscle-relaxants magnesium and potassium.They’re also carbs which will help make you sleepy as well.
Oats
Are known for raising blood sugar naturally and make you feel sleepy. They are also rich in melatonin, which relaxes the body and helps you fall asleep.”
Flaxseeds
are great for increasing levels of sleep-regulating substance serotonin in the body due to their high levels of both tryptophan and omega-3 fatty acids.
Natural Yogurt
contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which may help you to feel drowsier before heading to bed. After eating foods rich in tryptophan, your body converts it into two hormones, serotonin and melatonin, which may promote a restful night’s sleep.
Almond Butter
They’re also high in potassium, which can significantly increase sleep efficiency and decrease awakenings after falling asleep, and B vitamins, which promote restful sleep
Chamomile tea
is commonly regarded as a mild tranquilizer or sleep inducer. Its calming effects may be attributed to an antioxidant called apigenin, This antioxidant binds to specific receptors in your brain that may decrease anxiety and initiate sleep
Baby Spinach
contains magnesium. It contributes to energy production, helps regulate levels of nutrients in your body, and affects sensors in the brain that promote sleep.
Green Bedtime Smoothie
Click on images for recipes
During these difficult times or when the months are turning darker because the clocks turn back (daylight savings), for some of us, these changes can disturb our usual sleep pattern or in fact make an already disturbed sleeping pattern worse. If this is you, Give our Green Smoothies That Promote Sleep a go – packed full of flavour and specifically chosen ingredients to promote a better night’s sleep!
Enjoy and leave a comment below and tell me how you went with making them.
Until Next Time!