Tuesday, 10 January 2012 13:51

One of the most commonly asked questions is, "What will help me fall asleep and STAY asleep?" Insomnia and sleep disturbances are an issue affecting many people. There are many different supplements available to help aid you in those sleepless nights. There are also all of the little things we should practice more often, like going to bed at a regular time each night, avoiding caffeinated beverages in the late afternoon, and not eating foods high in carbohydrates before bed.

Another way to address the issue of insomnia, is by looking at our diet. There are certain raw foods that can actually promote healthy sleep patterns. The following are a list of raw foods that have been directly linked to better sleep quality.

1. Cherries - Increase the production of melatonin.

2. Guava - Packed full of the amino acid tryptophan (a precursor to melatonin) which aids insleepiness.

3. Almonds, Sesame Seeds & Sunflower Seeds - These nuts and seeds are also high in tryptophan.

4. Pumpkin Seeds - Contain magnesium which relaxes muscles, and also high amounts oftryptophan.

5. Green Leafy Vegetables - Contain key co-factors for the synthesis of sleep hormones.

6. Kelp - This seaweed is one of natures’ highest sources of calcium, which has been shown to promote sleep.

This is a whole foods way to look at improving our sleep. My next blog post will cover the many herbalsupplements that are available, and go over in detail how they work.