Wake Up, Get Up Challenge

Have you ever thought about the connection between what you eat and how well you sleep? Now that you think about it, it makes a lot of sense that these should be related.

Several research studies have indicated that a diet that’s high in fiber-rich sources of carbohydrates including a variety of vegetables, beans, and whole grains and also contains plenty of lean protein may help you fall asleep faster as well as stay asleep longer.

Conversely, a diet full of saturated fat, sugar, and processed carbs like white bread, crisps and white rice may actually contribute to reduced sleep quality and possible reasons behind certain sleep problems.

Choosing more of the right foods more often seems to be the key thing to do. Make sure you eat sleep-promoting foods that contain an amino acid called tryptophan found in eggs, chicken and bananas, and the mineral magnesium which is found in spinach and nuts, which are also an ideal evening snack.

Another one to watch carefully is stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol, both of which will have negative impacts on sleep, so be very careful with your volume, frequency and timing of these. More detail about these will be in future posts.

Speaking of timing, eating too close to bedtime, especially a heavy meal or consuming foods from the avoid list I’m just mentioned late at night will also play havoc with you sleep quality. The key to it all is to make good choices most of the time and to keep a consistent rhythm and routine around mealtime, bedtime and waketime.

This week’s challenge is to get up at the same time (+15 minutes) for the next 7 days and notice how that regulates your appetite control and impact your food choices for the better.

For more Challenges, please visit www.jonnybloomfield.com

Sleep well everybody.

Source: Effects of Diet on Sleep Quality