Sleeping Woes.

For most of my adult life I have had troubles falling asleep. My mom on the other hand falls asleep easily, but then wakes in the night and can't fall back to sleep. While blog hopping this morning, I came upon something that interested me which eventually (you know how that works), led me to this:

If you struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep, take a look at your diet.
Eating certain foods a few hours before bed, can help bring sleep better and improve its quality.

• Almonds: They contain magnesium, which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation. They also supply enough protein to help maintain a stable blood sugar level. Try just a handful or a tablespoon of almond butter.
• Tea: Decaf varieties, like chamomile, are helpful and safe sleep aids. Green tea contains theanine which also helps promote sleep. Just make sure the green tea is decaf. Try a 1-cup serving.
• Miso soup: The broth-based soup often served in Japanese restaurants also is available in 8-ounce instant packs. Miso contains amino acids that can help boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that helps make you sleepy.
• Bananas: They are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which can help relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin.
• Dairy: Yogurt, milk and cheese also contain tryptophan. But calcium, too, works as a good stress reliever.
• Oatmeal: A warm bowl is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and potassium, all important nutrients that support sleep. But go easy on sweeteners. Too much sugar can have an anti-calming effect.
• Hard-boiled egg: High in protein, this satisfying snack can help you stay asleep.
• Edamame: The young soybeans are especially helpful for women who are dealing with menopause-related sleep symptoms. The natural estrogen-like compounds found in soy based products like edamame can help control those nighttime hot flashes that can disturb sleep.
• Cherries: Whether frozen, dried, fresh or in juice form, researchers found that they naturally boosted the body’s supply of melatonin. Tart cherries proved even more effective.
• Cereal: A small bowl of whole-grain cereal that’s low in sugar also may help you sleep soundly. That’s because complex-carbohydrate rich foods boost tryptophan in the bloodstream.