Snacking on This Mood-Boosting Fruit Before Bed Can Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep
We’re often told to stay away from certain foods or drinks at night because they could disturb our sleep patterns. It turns out that’s not the case when it comes to kiwi, which research suggests is a great sleep-inducing food to eat before bed!
Because they are packed with vitamins C and E, kiwis are known to be able to help boost our mood and smooth aging skin. However, they also contains several other compounds, like melatonin, magnesium, and potassium, which can often be found in calming supplements due to their sleep-promoting abilities.
But if you’re not a fan of taking capsules or mixing up powders, then kiwi is a tasty alternative. In a study published in Asia Pacific Clinical Nutrition, researchers put the fruit to the test by encouraging participants to eat two kiwis an hour before bed every night. They then tracked how this improved their sleep quality over time.
After four weeks, researchers found that kiwi helped the participants fall asleep quicker and stay asleep through the night. Plus, the amount of sleep they got in a typical night increased by the end of the study (don’t we all dream of that?). So if you’re a fan of kiwi, you can slice up a couple to enjoy as a bed time snack. Even if you eat just one, it should still deliver plenty of soothing effects.
While this fruit can help you sleep better, you definitely want to avoid noshing on it while already in bed watching TV. Eating any foods too close to the time you fall asleep can negatively affect your metabolism and lead to weight gain. Also, the juice from kiwis (plus those tiny black seeds) can easily stain sheets if you’re not careful. Dirty bedding doesn’t make for the coziest place to rest and recharge. Instead, snack on it in the kitchen an hour or so before you start winding down, just to be on the safe side.
The next time you’re in the produce section of the store, be sure to pick up a few kiwis. They just might become your go-to treat for better sleep!
