We’ve already heard an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but can an apple before bed help you with your sleep? Sleep experts recommend this sweet fruit as great food to snack on right before you’re getting ready for a good night’s sleep. One of the most important things to keep in mind if you’re preparing for a good night’s sleep is you want to avoid eating a heavy meal. Apples can be a great snack for when you’re struggling to catch up on proper sleep.
Sleeping better starts with finding the most comfortable mattress for your rest, but there are other ways to ensure you’re catching up on the rest you need. Here are some top tips on the foods that help you sleep better, as well as a little more information on why an apple before bed can keep the nightmares at bay.
Do apples have caffeine?
A common myth about apples is that they contain caffeine, which might act to disrupt your sleep cycle. Thankfully, this is not true – apples do contain naturally-occurring sugars, fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.
How does an apple before bed help with sleep?
Eating an apple before bedtime can help in a number of ways. Since they are high in fiber, apples help keep you satiated for longer periods of time. They do this by slowing down your digestive system as it breaks food down, also allowing you to gain all the nutrients of the food you’re eating.
High carb or high-fat foods can lead to interruptions in your natural sleep cycle and might lead to disturbed sleep. Apples before bed can also be a great replacement for foods that help you sleep better, but are less healthy. If drinking a cup of warm milk before going to bed does the job for you, but leads to excess bloating or your skin breaking out, an apple can be a good replacement.
Apples are also rich in vitamins that can assist in ensuring you get better sleep. These include vitamins B-6, C, and Potassium. Vitamin B-6 helps your body when it comes to processing glucose, and also encourages the production of serotonin, which can further aid in a good night’s sleep. Low levels of potassium can further act to disrupt your sleep cycle by causing muscle spasms, so being sure to regulate this is important.
You should measure how many calories you need to fulfill your body’s requirements. Use the TDEE calculator to learn your Total Daily Energy Expenditure, a measure of how many calories you burn per day.
Can eating fruits at night help with sleep?
Eating fruits at night, other than apples, can have similarly positive effects on your sleep. While an apple before bed is quick and easy, there are other fruits that work just as well.
Eating fruits at night can also just be a healthy habit to interchange any cravings of sugar with. The naturally occurring sugars in fruits will help satiate your craving, while still being a healthy replacement for a good night’s sleep. Examples of foods that help you sleep better include bananas, cherries, oranges, and pineapples.
Tips for sleeping better.
If you’ve exhausted your options for foods that help you sleep better, and you’re already eating an apple before bed, there are other ways you can ensure you’re getting a good night’s sleep.
Investing in the most comfortable mattress for your sleep can go a long way in helping you catch up on those restful hours. How do you find the most comfortable mattress for your rest?
For starters, think about your preferred sleeping position. The most comfortable mattress is going to both support your sleeping position, as well as remain cozy enough for you to fall asleep.
Once you’ve found the best mattress for your rest, you can accomplish a cozy night’s sleep using other methods. Building healthy sleep hygiene habits can help you significantly when it comes to achieving better rest.
This might be something as simple as drinking a cup of tea as you’re winding down, to having a warm shower before you wrap up for the night to ensure your body is primed for bed.
Better sleep is a lot easier to accomplish than you think – from eating an apple before bed to finding the most comfortable mattress for your sleep, with these tips, you’ll be catching up on those zzzs in no time.
