Food gives us energy—that’s a fact. But did you know that food can also make us feel tired? Whether you are looking to have a good night’s sleep or just hoping to avoid these sleep-inducing snacks, the following are the foods that will have you snoozing in no time.
- Red Meat
High-fat meats have the tendency to make you feel sluggish after eating them. That’s because fat is harder for the body to digest, so it needs more complex process to break down compared to other nutrients. Your body’s energy will be focused on breaking down the fats from the meat, which in result, makes you feel sleepy and tired.
- White Bread
Unfortunately, this includes white rice, pastries, muffins, pasta and processed foods. Because these carb-rich foods have high glycemic index, they have very minimal fiber content, which means they breakdown pretty quickly and you won’t get constant level of energy. Also, the high amounts of sugar and flour in these foods can leave you feeling sleepy.
- Fish
Salmon, tuna and halibut are rich in vitamin B6, which stimulates production of melatonin (the sleep-inducing hormone). Stick to having fish at night, when the effects are actually beneficial to you.
- Bananas
Bananas are excellent source of magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant. While bananas are an easy snack to throw in your lunch pack, the magnesium level of the fruit makes it a great sleep aid, which means it can make you feel sluggish during the day.
- Walnuts
Walnuts have their own source of melatonin. And aside from that, it’s a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that motivates production of serotonin. Unless you want to feel sleepy at work, avoid munching on them during the day.
- Cherries
This fruit is natural source of melatonin. When eaten regularly, it can help improve your quality of sleep and regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. However, snacking on them while beating a deadline will only cause delay as it will only lull you to sleep instead of keeping you up.
Although eating is a good idea to energize you when you’re feeling slugging during the day, it may not be your best solution if it’s one of these mentioned food items. We’re not suggesting that you should avoid these foods, but if you are looking for a midday snack that will wake your system up, try picking something else that isn’t found in this list.
Leave a Comment