SLEEP LIKE A BABY TONIGHT
Bedtime Treats to Help You The late sunsets and muggy weather we’re dealing with right now make us twice as likely to toss and turn. To the rescue: sweets that will have you falling asleep fast and waking up refreshed!
TIRED BUT WIRED? ENJOY LEMONS
When you’re spent but too edgy to sleep, have a lemon treat. According to Stanford University researchers, breathing in the fruit’s citrusy aroma calms the central nervous system, lowering cortisol output within 60 seconds to end mental chatter and promote slumber. And lemon’s vitamin C soothes overworked adrenals to regulate stress-hormone production long-term.
TROUBLE DRIFTING OFF? PICK CHOCOLATE
Savoring 1 oz. of dark chocolate (like in a small slice of chocolate cake or ⁄2 cup of dark
1 chocolate pudding) can help you fall asleep in no time. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh report that the sweet is rich in a plant compound that stimulates the production of soothing alpha brain waves to shift the body into a sleep-ready state in minutes.
WAKE UP EXHAUSTED? TRY BANANAS
The tasty fix for women who get 8 hours of shut-eye but never feel refreshed: Savor a banana treat (like a banana pudding parfait or a slice of banana bread). The fruit is rich in B vitamins that kick-start the production of a calming brain chemical to promote restful sleep. Research has shown this effect is powerful enough to help women improve overall sleep quality by threefold.
CAN’T STAY ASLEEP? SAVOR PLUMS
Post-dinner blood-sugar flux increases the risk of middle-of-the-night awakenings. But researchers at UCLA found that plums can help. Plant compounds in the fruit slow the absorption of carbs to keep blood-sugar levels steady for up to four hours at a stretch. Bonus: Plums are rich in plant acids that relax the body to cut insomnia in as little as 12 minutes.
UP BEFORE THE SUN? NIBBLE BERRIES
If you’re wide-eyed hours before you need to be, try indulging in strawberry shortcake before bed. According to researchers at Winona State University in Minnesota, berries are rich in compounds that prod the brain to produce a steady trickle of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin throughout the night and early morning to keep you sleeping peacefully until dawn.