The key to a healthy sleep could lie in what you consume moments before heading to bed.
Take a look at our pick of the best pre-bedtime beverages.
Packed full of sleep inducing tryptophan and magnesium, these drinks are perfect for a deep doze each night.
Banana Smoothie
Although it might not seem like the typical pre-bedtime drink, a banana smoothie before sleep could be the solution when it comes to sleepless nights.
Bananas are packed full of sleep causing tryptophan, magnesium and potassium, perfect for a pre-bedtime beverage.
Just whizz up one banana with some almond butter and a milk of your choosing before rest, and you’ll feel calm and ready for bed.
Warm Milk
People have opted this warm milk for decades as the perfect pre-bedtime drink, and there could be some truth to the benefits of dairy for a healthy sleep.
Dairy is packed full of tryptophan, which helps with the production of sleep causing hormones in the body such as melatonin.
Heating up the milk doesn’t actually increase the strength of the tryptophan, but the calming presence of a warm drink before bed can certainly soothe people further into rest.
Herbal Tea
Herbal teas can be brilliant for boosting sleep, it is however super important that decaffeinated options are chosen!
Options such as chamomile and valerian root are perfect for inducing sleep, whilst other combinations of ‘sleep teas’ can be bought at your local grocery store.
Green tea can also be great for aiding digestion as you sleep, however it’s important to opt for the decaffeinated option if you’re enjoying the beverage after 2pm.
Cherry Juice
Cherries are packed to the brim with the sleep hormone melatonin!
So, a small glass of cherry juice one hour before bedtime could be the best pre-curser to a deep, restful sleep.
Whizz some up in a banana smoothie if the taste is too sour, for the ultimate sleep inducing effect.
Almond Milk
Almond milk could be the best alternative if you’re sticking to a dairy free diet.
Just like cow’s milk, it’s packed full with sleep inducing tryptophan and magnesium, perfect for a late night drink before heading to bed.