5 Drinks That'll Help You Sleep At Night

Introduction

Sleep is often an understated source of health. Yet specialists advise that adults aged 18–60 get a minimum of 7–9 hours of sleep each night.

However too little or too much sleep is connected with an increased chance of depression, diabetes, heart disease, and even death. And sleeping for at least 7 full hours a night is easier said than done for some of us.

Luckily, there are a variety of sleep-inducing drinks that can help you get to dreamworld faster. Below we feature 5 drinks that'll help you sleep at night.

Let's go.

Chamomile

Chamomile is commonly regarded as a mild tranquilizer or sleep inducer.

Its calming effects may be attributed to an antioxidant called apigenin, which is found in abundance in chamomile tea. Apigenin binds to specific receptors in your brain that may decrease anxiety and initiate sleep.

According to doctors, you should drink one cup of chamomile tea about 45 minutes before bed if you're hoping to induce sleepiness.

That will give your body enough time to metabolize the tea, and the chemical compounds that cause those sedative feelings to kick in.

"Chamomile formulations such as tea and essential oil aromatherapy have been used to treat insomnia and to induce sedation," says Michael Breus, PhD, a psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist.

"They are commonly used as a mild tranquilizers and sleep-inducer."

Ashwagandha Tea

Ashwagandha root extract is a natural compound with sleep-inducing potential, well tolerated and improves sleep quality and sleep onset latency in patients with insomnia at a dose of 300 mg extract twice daily.

While effects can vary person to person and on the dosage, taking Ashwagandha in capsule form at least a half hour before bedtime should allow the herb time to work its way through your system and deliver its relaxation benefits.

Research has shown that Ashwagandha can help normalize cortisol levels, thus reducing the stress response.

In addition, Ashwagandha has also been associated with reduced inflammation, reduced cancer risks, improved memory, improved immune function and anti-aging properties.Consume 1 teaspoon (equivalent to 1-gram or 1,000-milligram (mg) extract) per day, and feel the effects within 6 to 12 weeks.

Dosages used in studies range from 250 mg per day up to 600 mg per day.

Golden Milk

Does a night of restful and restorative sleep sound like a dream? It can become one with this steamy golden milk drink.

The antioxidants in golden milk support healthy physiology and metabolism. When your cells, organs, and systems are protected from free radical oxidation, they are more likely to function properly, and you are more likely to feel good at the end of the day so that sleep can come easier, get deeper, and last longer.

The main ingredient in golden milk is turmeric, via curcumin, which can go a long way to helping you feel relaxed and ready for sleep at the end of the day.

However, if restful sleep remains elusive, even with your cup of golden milk, continue to drink up because curcumin can support a healthy hippocampus, the memory center in your brain, which may be compromised by sleeplessness.

Add in some warm dairy milk since it’s a beneficial source of tryptophan, casein, and calcium that all help to put your brain into sleep mode. Casein, the main protein in milk, contains fragments known as casomorphins.

These exert opioid-like effects on the brain, which has a relaxing effect and can help you fall and stay asleep. Include cinnamon in your drink, this bold, spicy, yet sweet aromatic does more than flavour your food.

Even better, it supports healthy sugar metabolism, which favourably affects sleep quality. If you like a kick, throw in some ginger. Ginger is well known to calm a troubled stomach by relieving indigestion and nausea, making falling asleep and staying asleep easier.

Adding a pinch of nutmeg to your golden milk may support sleep by acting as a calming agent. Lastly, drizzle some honey or maple syrup. The sweetness will make the insulin go temporarily up, which can promote better sleep.

Insulin makes it easier for the amino acid tryptophan to enter the brain, where it can increase levels of calming serotonin and the sleep-supporting hormone melatonin. 

Glass of Red Wine

The sleep benefits of wine come from a chemical called melatonin, found in high levels in the skins of red grapes.

With an extra glass of wine at night, we enhance our body's melatonin peak, therefore inducing a restful night. Studies have shown that you are doing wonders for your bodily health by treating yourself to 5 oz. of fine wine every night before bed.

According to scientific studies, those who drank 5 oz. of red wine every night reported better sleep quality than those who drank water.

Similarly, the calming effect that we feel from drinking a glass of wine has great benefits for your brain. Wine has the tendency to create a calming effect on the brain allowing us to de-stress after a day of hard work.

However, scientists have found that wine could even have long-term benefits for our mental health when consumed in moderation. For example, red wine contains polyphenol antioxidants which assist in the reduction of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Resveratrol, a compound in red wine, has proven to show anti-inflammatory properties. A 2014 study found that this supplement stopped the formation of inflammatory components that are associated with cancers and other chronic diseases.

Keep in mind, it is important to remember to drink in moderation, as an excess of alcohol can lead to an increase in inflammation.Studies have shown that those who drink wine nearly every night had a 40% lower risk of contracting the common cold.

Furthermore, doctors have discovered that drinking red wine specifically can boost immunity against 200 viruses.

CBD Tea

Some individuals report potential benefits of CBD tea, which include managing stress, sleep disturbances, and pain. For people who find relief from CBD, the health benefits might include lower medical costs, reduced reliance on drugs that cause unpleasant or harmful side effects, and improved quality of life.

According to the Sleep Association, a study published in the Permanente Journal, 72 adults with anxiety and poor sleep were involved.

The participants completed anxiety and sleep assessments at the start of the study and at the first-month follow up. Study participants were given 25 mg of CBD in capsule form. Those that predominantly had sleep complaints took the dose in the evening. Participants that had anxiety as their predominant complaint took CBD in the morning.

Sleep scores improved in 66 percent of the participants, which indicated less trouble sleeping. The results suggest that CBD decreased sleep difficulties in many of the participants.

CBD tea bags are readily available on the market. They contain a dosage of the cannabinoid per pack and require you to infuse them in hot water to get ready for use.

Alternatively, consumers can also brew a fresh cup of tea of their choice and add a few drops of CBD oil or tincture. Given that CBD is hydrophobic, adding any form of fat will increase the compound’s absorption in one’s body.

Consumers can also add butter or coconut milk to enhance the bioavailability of the cannabinoid in their system.

Summary

Creating a routine before bed helps. So if you find yourself having problems getting a healthy dose of Zs, pick any one of your favourite drinks above and sip your way to sleep.

There are many beverages that can work as natural aids for healthy sleep.

If you have a favourite drink that helps you get to sleep and is missing on our list feel free to share it with us at info@ezysleep.ca and we'll gladly add it to our list. 

Until next post EzySleepers, cheers!