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Evening Snacks That Won't Keep You Awake

By Sara Butler

Have you ever made the connection between your evening snack and your sleep quality at night? Well, there is a connection! The snacks you eat in the evening can play a role in how well you sleep at night. You probably already know that a big steaming cup of coffee is going to keep you awake, but there are some less conspicuous snacks, like deep-fried or spicy foods, that can keep you up too. If you need a snack before bed but also value a good night's sleep, then here are some snacks that might actually help you drift off to dreamland a little easier.

What Makes a Good Evening Snack? Timing!

Eating right before bed isn't going to help you sleep no matter what you choose to much on. But if you feel the need for a little snacking a couple of hours before bed, it's not a bad idea to have a small snack with enough time for your body to digest it. Choosing something easy to digest doesn't hurt either!

A Few Good Snacks

Try some of these snacks in the hours before bed to help you feel satisfied instead of regretful as you lay awake:

  • Peanut butter on whole-grain toast - Whole grain toast is a complex carbohydrate, so it takes longer for your body to digest it. This, combined with the protein in peanut butter, leads to you feeling fuller for longer and reduces your chances of waking up in the night feeling hungry. Throw on some bananas for a boost of potassium, a nutrient that can help your muscles to relax during sleep and keep muscle cramps away.
  • Greek yogurt - This food is full of magnesium, potassium, and calcium, all of which your body needs to balance its electrolytes. Electrolytes help your organs and muscle functioning well; yogurt is easy on the stomach too, helping to improve gut health.
  • Hummus and celery - Celery happens to be full of potassium to help your muscles relax before bed. The hummus adds protein and complex carbohydrates to help keep your blood sugar stable as you sleep.
  • Popcorn - Popcorn is a whole grain, which means it's filling and satisfying. Just lay off the butter when you eat it before bed and sprinkle on some parmesan cheese instead. Parmesan actually contains tryptophan, which can help your brain to produce serotonin and melatonin to help you fall asleep.

Don't let your evening snack keep you awake at night! Go for something healthy and satisfying and you'll drift off to dreamland before you know it.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Riverside, Calif.

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