Food and stuff that help you sleep better

                                     

Errm....Yes this is new, we will be doing this as often as possible, at least once a month. Aside from me writing, we will be featuring short, straight- to- the- point interviews from medical professionals on various health topics. (after all, our blog is focused on health, diet and nature before all other issues).hehehe.
We are just trying to create fun while you read, learn, laugh and get inspired.
I'm excited about this...Send us a mail if there is anything you would love us to talk about.

See this little write up we did on insomnia..
Enjoy:

         
                              
Sleep has a huge effect on how you feel throughout the day, and nutrition plays a role in how well you sleep. Food relates directly to serotonin, a key hormone that — along with Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid — helps promote healthy sleep.

A stressful job or some other problem in your life can keep you awake, and it can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and depression. But before you reach for the latest prescription drug, reach for your spoon, fruit and food basket..Lol. Revamping your diet can go a long way towards improving your sleep quality, provided you opt for foods rich in the right sleep-inducing ingredients.
Sleeplessness not only leaves you feeling exhausted, but can also end up dampening your moods.
 Here are some fruit and foods that can help:

Cherries
All varieties of cherries are naturally high in melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy.try eating udala/agbalumo

Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs can have a calming effect on the body. For example, sage and basil contain chemicals that reduce tension and promote sleep. try cooking with nchanwu/ scent leaves/efirin.

Milk
Dairy products are rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which helps in the production of the sleep inducing brain chemicals, serotonin and melatonin.

Other helpful snacks are:
 Herbal teas, such as camomile, passion flower tea and valerian, have a sedative effect.
yogurt, oats, bananas, poultry, eggs, peanuts and tuna as they all contain good amounts of tryptophan.

These can also help:
Research has shown certain minerals to be effective as a natural remedy for insomnia. Magnesium and calcium work together to calm the body and help relax muscles.  A lack of these minerals may cause you to wake up after a few hours. Calcium helps the brain use the amino acid tryptophan to manufacture the sleep-inducing substance melatonin. This explains why dairy products, which contain both tryptophan and calcium, While Magnesium deficiency, chronic insomnia is one of the main, central symptoms. Magnesium rich foods include spinach, banans, nuts, seeds, fish and wholegrains.  
Exercise and fresh air can help you sleep soundly. Exercise produces endorphins which lift our mood and increase metabolism. However, exercise produces stimulants that stop the brain from relaxing quickly, so it's better to exercise earlier in the day rather than last thing at night.  

Restless Legs Syndrome, a constant urge to move the legs, often accompanied by a tingling sensation can disrupt sleep. It is often experienced at night and may be indicative of iron deficiency