If you fancy a midnight snack, experts have revealed that there is one type of fruit you should definitely avoid....CONTINUE READING
In fact, having a banana before bed could actually give you nightmares…..CONTINUE READING
The yellow-peeled superfood – a favourite in smoothies and fruit salads – could be over activating your imagination and putting your sleep cycles out of order.
Instead the professionals at US-based sleepjunkie.com suggested opting for a kiwi – which is filled with high volumes of serotonin and antioxidants.
‘Due to their high levels of magnesium which relax the muscles and calm the body, many people can benefit from their soothing effects late at night,’ a spokesperson told FEMAIL.
If you fancy a midnight snack – try and avoid a banana, sleep experts have warned – as they could give you nightmares. Stock image used
‘However, bananas also produce a high amount of melatonin and too much melatonin can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose.’
They added that while the fruit will give you ’26 per cent of the daily recommended value of melatonin’ – that’s exactly what may make it harder for you to sleep if you have a snack close to bedtime.
‘This is because your circadian rhythms will be disrupted and activate your imagination,’ the experts advised.
What’s more, other side-effects of short-term melatonin use include dizziness, headaches and agitation.
The sleep pros continued: ‘Most healthy adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best.
‘However, the average human will also only get 1 to 2 hours of deep sleep per 8 hours of that nightly sleep and typically will descend into deep sleep within an hour of falling asleep.
‘Therefore, eating banana so close to the time you fall asleep can significantly impact your valuable hours of deep sleep.’
Because of that, they advise pacing your snacks and considering them carefully in relation to bedtime.
‘Eating too much fruit containing melatonin can leave you feeling drowsy and groggy during the following day due to of your restless night’s sleep.
Instead they advise opting for a kiwi – which is filled with high volumes of serotonin and antioxidants (stock image used)
‘Therefore, the timing of melatonin is key to help sleep. Ideally, if you do enjoy a late-night snack before bed, try to leave it at an hour or two before attempting to sleep.’
Eating a kiwi, however, could make for the perfect tasty pre-bedtime ritual.
‘If you do you have a sweet tooth late at night, kiwis are one of the best choices to help increase your sleep efficiency and prevent the brain playing tricks on you,’ sleep experts advised.
‘Studies show that kiwi fruit can help improve quality of sleep and sleep timings if consumed for a month or more before bed.’
This is because the tangy green fruit contains high volumes of serotonin and antioxidants – as well as vitamins such as vitamin B and folate – ‘which are often used to treat sleep disorders’.
‘These vitamins can also help to reset your body to its natural sleep schedule,’ they added.…..CONTINUE READING
