KEY POINTS

  • Sleep problems are common all over the world
  • Eating hi-carb meals can make people sleepy but not in a good way
  • Experts suggest a hi-fat low-carb diet to help achieve a restful sleep

An average person needs approximately eight hours of quality sleep time every night for their body to function perfectly. In the UK, however, distractions and many other factors cause many to fall short of the required amount of sleep. If you are among those who are unable to get the required amount of sleep, making a few lifestyle changes can greatly help.

Dietary Habits

Did you know that dietary habits could help or hinder your sleep-wake cycle? Some types of diets can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep and other types can help you get a good sleep.

According to popular belief, eating too much food can make you sleepy. That is partly true. Studies have shown that consuming high-carb meals can stop you from getting quality sleep. While high-carb diets may make you quickly feel drowsy, it may not be a restful sleep.

A high-fat diet, on the other hand, could help you get a deeper, peaceful sleep. Past studies have echoed the finding that a high-carb and low-fat diet considerably lowered sleep time when compared with a high-fat, low-carb diet. Both diets contain the same amount of calories.

diet for a good night's sleep
diet for a good night's sleep StockSnap - Pixabay

The Low-Carb, High-Fat Diet

The key component of this type of diet are nuts like walnuts and almonds. The National Sleep Foundation said that these nuts contain rich amounts of melatonin, a hormone proven to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

According to the health body, consuming these nuts can increase melatonin levels in the blood, helping you sleep more deeply. Another type of food that can promote a good, quality sleep is cheese. The National Sleep Foundation said that some types of cheese, such as cottage cheese, are high in lean protein. They are also rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps increase serotonin levels.

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that promotes wellbeing and happiness. Studies have shown that low levels of this chemical can hugely contribute to insomnia. Consuming foods rich in lean protein can help you achieve a good night’s sleep.

Other high-fat, low-carb foods include fish like tuna, salmon, cod, and herring, butter, seeds like chia, flax, and sunflower, butter, and avocado. Foods like meat, which include turkey, chicken, beef, and pork, eggs, and oils like flaxseed, olive, and coconut, are also classified as high-fat, low-carb foods.