With a whopping one-third of adults struggling to get a good night's sleep on a regular basis, sometimes it feels like you'll try anything to get some shut-eye.
However, it turns out the answer might be hiding in your fridge.
Something as simple as eating eggs at dinner time can be a natural sedative. Egg whites help the body prepare for bedtime by producing melatonin that bring on that sleepy feeling.
Jam-packed with 11 vitamins and minerals, eggs are also a rich source in the amino acid tryptophan, which helps you sleep better for longer by telling your brain to shut down for the night.
"Eggs are widely recognised as a high-quality protein source so simply including an egg with a meal can boost sleep duration and quality for all-round mental and physical health," says Sharon Natoli, Australian dietician and author.
Quality sleep aids the repairing of tissues and reduces the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol as well. In daily life a good night of sleep improves learning, attention span and problem-solving making us ready to take on the world.
Other tips from Natoli for getting better sleep include:
- Avoid drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola and cocoa, for at least four hours before bedtime.
- Avoid eating large meals for two to three hours before bedtime. Try a light healthy snack 45 minutes before bed if you're still hungry.
- Don't skip breakfast or eat at irregular times on a daily basis.
- Enjoy a wide variety of colourful fruits and vegetables such as apple, orange, kiwi fruit, apricot, broccoli, spinach, red capsicum and tomato.
Aussie nutritionist and chef Jacqueline Alwill has partnered with Australian Eggs to create some warming recipes ideal for convenient, nutritious dinners to set your body up for a full night's rest and allow your body to recover from the day's activity.
Newshub.
