| Did you know that the foods you eat can have a | | | | Foods that keep us awake contain tyramine. Tyramine |
| serious impact on your sleep? | | | | is an amino acid that causes the release of a brain |
| Here's an example. Remember the Atkins diet which | | | | stimulant called norepinephrine, that can keep us wired |
| was very popular a few years back? The reason it | | | | all night long. Tyramine foods include ham, bacon, |
| was popular was because it worked well. Many | | | | sausages, cheese, aubergines, tomatoes, red wine, |
| people lost weight on the Atkins diet which urged it's | | | | peppers, smoked meats, fish and, (unfortunately), |
| followers to eat plenty of meat and other protein | | | | chocolate. |
| foods as well as foods high in fat like fried eggs and | | | | How about what we drink? Most of us know not to |
| sausages. On the banned list were bread, pasta and | | | | drink coffee, tea or cola in the evenings, but what |
| other carbohydrates. | | | | about the supposedly healthy energy drinks? You |
| What's all this got to do with sleep? It turned out that | | | | know, like the ones that give you wings? |
| some people on the Atkins diet found they were | | | | Energy drinks can cause widespread insomnia, |
| having trouble sleeping at night even if they'd never | | | | especially among teenagers who use them to stay |
| previously had sleep problems. This is because their | | | | awake longer and study better. Manufacturers of |
| carbohydrates were so restricted, they developed a | | | | these so called "healthy" drinks purposely target our |
| condition called "Serotonin Deficiency Syndrome" | | | | young folk with their advertising. |
| Serotonin is a neurotransmitter formed by the body | | | | These energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine |
| from eating foods containing the amino acid | | | | and taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that causes an |
| tryptophan. Tryptophan is found mainly in carbohydrate | | | | alert state. Combined together these substances can |
| rich foods like rice, pasta and bread. If your diet is too | | | | cause high blood pressure, elevated heart rate and |
| low in carbohydrates you will probably be low in | | | | dehydration. They're also easy to become addicted to. |
| serotonin. | | | | These drinks become especially dangerous if alcohol is |
| Serotonin is converted into melatonin via the pineal | | | | added. This is because you're combining the energy |
| gland. Melatonin is the sleep hormone that controls our | | | | drink which contains stimulants and alcohol which is a |
| circadian rhythm. Without melatonin our sleep-wake | | | | depressant. |
| cycle is disrupted. | | | | We simply don't need these drinks to feel energetic. All |
| So that's why it's best to have a high protein breakfast | | | | your getting are empty calories combined with a |
| and lunch and have plenty of carbohydrates like pasta, | | | | chemical cocktail which could lead to sleepless nights |
| rice and potatoes for dinner. | | | | even if you consume them in the morning. All we really |
| Foods for insomnia that contain serotonin include dairy | | | | need for energy is water, the right foods and enough |
| products such as cottage cheese, cheese and milk, | | | | sleep. |
| soy products, seafood, poultry, whole grains, beans, | | | | Eating the right foods for insomnia and avoiding energy |
| rice, hummus, lentils, hazelnuts, peanuts, eggs, sesame | | | | drinks can radically improve your sleep. Worth a try! |
| and sunflower seeds. | | | | |