Cured Meats
Bacon, pepperoni and sausage contain high levels of tyramine,
an amino acid that boosts the secretion of the brain stimulant
norepinephrine.
A better sleep snack: A turkey sandwich on whole wheat toast.
Don't forget the bread: The complex carbs combined with the tryptophan
in the turkey will stimulate the production of serotonin, which can make
you feel drowsy.
Heart-Healthy Chocolate
You know chocolate has caffeine, but you may be surprised to
hear that some of the darker bars can have as much as 80 milligrams—the
amount in a can of Red Bull. As a general rule, the darker the
chocolate, the stronger the stimulant.
A better sleep snack: Save the chocolate for breakfast ,
and at night, snack on trail mix with walnuts, almonds and dried tart
cherries. All three are good food sources of melatonin, a hormone that
promotes a more restful sleep.
Slumber-Party Snacks
Some studies have suggested that gorging on ice cream and candy bars a half-hour before bed can cause nightmares.
A better sleep snack: Nonfat popcorn will take the edge off your hunger but won't make you feel stuffed...or scared.
A Decaf Latte
A 2007 Consumer Reports study found that the amount of
caffeine in "decaf" drinks sold at coffee shops varied from less than 5
milligrams to levels high enough to interfere with sleep. While a
generic 8-ounce cup of decaf has 3 to 12 milligrams, a decaf from
Dunkin' Donuts had 32 milligrams—as much as a 12-ounce bottle of Coke.
A better sleep snack: There's no conclusive proof that chamomile
tea will put you to sleep, but it's been used for thousands of years as a
natural calming remedy.
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