4 Sleep-Loving Superfoods to Add to Your Diet Today
There is one public health epidemic not being talked about enough: the state of sleep health in America. In fact, more than 50 million Americans already suffer from over 80 different sleep disorders, and another 20 to 30 million suffer from intermittent sleep problems.
The numbers speak for themselves: we’re tired, and we’re tired of being tired. So much so that lack of sleep for many Americans has contributed to other health issues we must now contend with in addition to laying awake staring at the ceiling all night.
The good news is, there are actually simple, transformational changes we can make to change our relationship with sleep for the better. And with sleep being the cornerstone of whole-body health, nothing is more important than making sure you get adequate rest.
From eliminating blue light exposure (especially before bedtime) to exercising routinely, many modalities exist within our reach to facilitate healthier sleep for ourselves. What, how, and when we consume also matters, whether it’s a suspenseful Netflix show that dysregulates the nervous system or overconsumption of sugar which can adversely affect your sleep.
But sometimes it’s not always something we should stop doing—but something we should start doing to make strides in our overall wellbeing. So instead of telling you to swear off sugar or your favorite cocktail for the rest of your life, perhaps the answer lies in just adding one or more of these sleep-healthy superfoods commonly found in the Mediterranean diet to your weekly meal plan!
4 Sleep-Loving Superfoods to Add to Your Diet Today
- Cherries. The vibrant red skin on a cherry does more than look pretty on a bathing suit design—it is actually jam-packed with melatonin, the hormone responsible for making you feel sleepy before bed. Also rich in sleep-boosting magnesium, this is one easy addition to your diet that makes a great mid-day snack on a hot summer day! Remember to spit out the pits!
- Avocado. Don’t skimp on that avocado toast (but opt for whole-grain, since fiber promotes better sleep as well)! Rich in magnesium, an essential mineral for restful sleep, adding more avocado into your diet might make your insomniac friends green with envy when you start falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.
- Legumes. A staple food of the Mediterranean diet along with fruits and veggies, legumes provide a high-fiber plant-based source of protein that boosts serotonin levels, an important hormone that promotes sleep. Chili night with slices of avocado on top? Yes, please!
- Nuts and seeds. Another foundational component of the Mediterranean diet, nuts and seeds are chock-full of sleep-loving nutrients that will have you drifting off to dreamland in no time. For melatonin-rich nuts, opt for walnuts, pistachios, and almonds. For tryptophan (the ingredient in turkey that has your relatives snoozing on the couch on Thanksgiving) and magnesium, pumpkin, sesame, chia, and sunflower seeds are the winners.
Upping magnesium levels is mission-critical to sleeping better. Due to soil quality diminishing greatly over the past few decades, most Americans are deficient and unable to consume adequate magnesium levels from diet alone. Adding a high-quality bioavailable magnesium supplement is another effortless way to make positive changes that mend your relationship with sleep.
At the end of the day, we can’t avoid the stressors or life experiences that keep us up at night. But we can all make small, actionable changes to give our body the resources it needs to serve us well and ensure we feel (and look) our best. And that starts with getting enough rest.
Level Up Your Sleep
As a former bad sleeper whose mood, energy, and overall health were impacted by a lack of quality sleep, I went on my own journey after a decade of dependence on sleep medication to improve my health and life by repairing my own relationship with sleep.
Now I work with women to “makeover” their sleep protocols so they fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and wake feeling refreshed.
If you are ready to create your own sleep sanctuary and overcome the “sleep stealers” that are keeping you from feeling your best, contact me today for a free discovery call. And if you want to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and feel more rested when you wake up, download my free Sleep Sanctuary Checklist.
