What to Eat and Drink for a Better Night's Sleep

Craving more zzzz’s? Some of the things you eat and drink can help you get more rest, others can work against you.
swiss cheese

Craving more zzzz’s? Some of the things you eat and drink can help you get more rest, others can work against you.

What You Eat

Green Light
  • Going to bed hungry is a big no-no for relaxation; have a light snack to help you unwind.
  • Both calcium and carbohydrate-rich foods promote the effects of tryptophan, a  sleep-promoting amino acid. Top picks for sleep are apples with peanut butter, cheese and crackers or cereal and milk.
  • Magnesium is another mineral that aids with sleep – get some from nuts, seeds, bananas, beans, whole grains and avocado.

Red Light
  • Anything overly spicy, heavy or greasy wreaks havoc on your digestive system. Unless you're comfy sleeping while sitting up, pass on these before bedtime.
  • Sorry choco-holics, the caffeine in chocolate may stand in the way of you and a good night's sleep.
What You Drink

Green Light

Red Light
  • The stimulating effects of caffeinated beverages can linger for hours. Moderate your consumption of black, white and green teas and coffee (even decaf). Cut yourself off 6 hours before bed.
  •  Too much of any liquid disrupts sleep with trips to the bathroom.
  • Alcohol may help you doze off but leads to a less restful sleep – go light on the booze for a better night’s rest.
Tell Us: What foods and drinks disrupt your sleep?

Next Up

Do Sleep Foods and Drinks Really Work?

From tart cherry juice to sleep cereals, a nutritionist weighs in on whether these foods are worth having before bed.

5 Signs You've Gotten a Good Night's Sleep

How to tell when you've actually slept well.

This Purim, Drink Your Cocktails and Eat Them Too

Espresso martini-inspired hamantaschen are just the thing!

Can You Eat to Sleep?

Follow our pictogram for Banana-Cocoa Chia Milk for better sleep!

Hot Drinks for Cold Nights

Whip up either of these warming beverages to close out a holiday gathering or a chilly winter night. They're perfectly portioned to prevent the seasonal tendency to go overboard.

Good Eats for Better Bones

An estimated 44 million Americans are at risk for, or have, osteoporosis, a disease where our bones become increasingly fragile and sometimes fracture. Though women are 4 times more likely to suffer from osteoporosis, men are affected as well. Exercise and some medications can help, but what you eat plays a vital role.

7 Favorite Late-Night College Eats

We partnered with Spoon University to find the 52 best late-night college haunts in the country.