One of the least understood factors in any sleep disorder is the role of diet in their development. There is a belief that insomnia help is limited to insomnia treatment, but this is a misconception. While medications and treatments like CPAP can certainly help, the food that a sleep disorder sufferer does and does not eat can also have a big influence on their condition, particularly sleep apnea and insomnia. After all, diet is an integral part of a person's lifestyle, something that is one of the most crucial causes for insomnia. Therefore, it's well documented that knowing the right foods to eat and which foods to avoid can help to prevent many sleep disorder problems.
Foods to Eat
Cherries are known to be rich in melatonin. Drinking tart cherry juice can be an effective insomnia treatment. Persons suffering from insomnia are advised to drink eight ounces of tart cherry juice in the morning and another eight ounces before going to sleep to get the best results from this natural remedy. Being rich in magnesium, pumpkin seeds can also provide relief from sleep disorder problems. Their high magnesium content makes pumpkin seeds effective in relaxing and relieving the body from stress. Stress is one of the greatest contributors to insomnia and pumpkin seeds can get rid of this perpetrator.
Seafood is not only good for goiter prevention but also for insomnia treatment. Eating foods such as shrimp, cod, tuna and halibut is beneficial because they contain tryptophan, a sleep-inducing substance. Warm milk can also provide a good dose of tryptophan. Combining carbohydrates and proteins that contain tryptophan is also considered to be an effective insomnia treatment. Other tryptophan options include cottage cheese, soy milk, tofu, hummus and lentils. It is recommended to drink a glass of organic milk with a cup of whole grain cereals and sesame seeds before turning in to bed.
Aside from being a digestion remedy, lemon balm can provide effective insomnia help by decreasing agitation and inducing sleep. Insomnia help can be obtained by drinking lemon balm tea. Mix 1 or 2 teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of hot water, stir and drink for a better night's rest. Anyone taking medication for thyroid problems should consult their doctor before drinking lemon balm tea however, as this can lead to side effects. In this case, a lower dosage may be more advisable. Other herbal options for insomnia help include chamomile and valerian teas.
Foods to Avoid
If there are foods that induce sleep, there are also certain foods which can trigger insomnia. Foods loaded with refined carbohydrates are enemies of sleep. These foods drain vitamin B and reduce the amount of serotonin in the body. Serotonin helps lessen a person's apprehension, anxiety and tension. Most Chinese foods and processed food items do anything but provide insomnia help. These processed foods contain monosodium glutamate, which is a stimulant. Contrary to popular notions, alcohol will never be an effective insomnia treatment. In fact, it can even keep people awake the whole night. While it may seem easy to fall asleep initially when drunk, the quality of sleep will be unsatisfactory and the sleep can easily be disturbed, so alcohol is not recommended. Those who are seeking for a remedy for their sleep disorder should also avoid chocolates. No matter how tempting they may be, chocolates contain sugar and caffeine, known for elevating an individual's energy levels.
Mike Moore is published on more than 300 websites. He writes about Health, Sleep Aids, and Relaxation. He is published on various website including http://www.cityofsleep.com