John Aaron, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge, but some unexpected foods could be the key to falling, and staying, asleep.
A drop in blood sugar can cause some to wake from a deep sleep and spend the rest of the night tossing and turning.
According to Dr. Oz, eating a dinner that includes dandelion leaves could be the answer, since dandelions help balance blood sugar and keep the liver clean.
For healthy sleep, the brain needs melatonin. Sour Montmorency cherries have about six times the melatonin as a regular cherry. Fresh ones are found in upscale grocery stores and frozen can be found elsewhere.
The traditional Mexican milk-colored beverage pulque contains melatonin, too, although it also contains alcohol, so it should only be used occasionally.
Tryptophan, which is credited with making everyone groggy at Thanksgiving, can be found in pumpkin seeds. Oatmeal also contains melatonin, along with complex carbohydrates that can help more tryptophan get into the brain.
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