When we think about what product helps us fall asleep quickly, we hardly remember cheese. But don't rush to conclusions. It turns out, depending on what you choose, this snack can make the difference between a restorative night's sleep and endless hours of tossing and turning.
ContentWhat product helps you fall asleep quickly: you need cheddarHow much cheddar cheese should you eat before bedWhat product helps you fall asleep quickly: an alternative to cheddar
You may have an optimal bedtime routine, but you're overlooking the fact that nutrition is a key component of sleep health. WomanEL will tell you which cheese you need to choose in order to get a good night's sleep.
What product helps you fall asleep quickly: you need cheddar
Only a few of us sleep 8 hours a night. And some sleep only 5 hours or less. That's why we need all the help we can get. According to a 2023 study published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, that help may come in the form of tryptophan, an amino acid that supports the production of the sleep-promoting hormones serotonin and melatonin.
We often think of tryptophan in relation to turkey. But dairy products are also rich in essential amino acids, especially hard cheeses. While there are many hard cheeses to choose from, Men's Health suggests that cheddar cheese is not only delicious, but also has the added benefit of promoting sleep.
How much cheddar cheese should you eat before bed
The reason cheddar cheese can effectively put us to sleep is because it has 60% more tryptophan than its competitor, turkey. The more tryptophan, the sleepier we feel due to increased production of serotonin and melatonin. So how much cheese do we need to eat to fall asleep in record time?
A study conducted by the British Cheese Board found that after eating 85g of cheese before going to bed, 75% of participants slept soundly . However, there is no need to go too deep into measurements. As an alternative, Men's Health suggests snacking on four cubes of cheddar cheese, each about the size of a dice, before bed.
But fair warning: Eating cheddar cheese before bed can cause unique dreams. Back in 2005, in an experiment in which participants ate two-thirds of an ounce of cheese 30 minutes before bed, those who ate cheddar cheese tended to have dreams featuring celebrities.
What product helps you fall asleep quickly: an alternative to cheddar
Don't like cheddar? Buy some cottage cheese for a filling, protein-rich snack before bed. “Cottage cheese contains the amino acid L-tryptophan,” says Jackson-Blatner, RD. The benefits of eating cottage cheese before bed can go far beyond sleep itself.
Studies have shown that people who ate cottage cheese about 30 minutes to an hour before bed had better metabolism, muscle quality and overall health than people who did not. Skip the low-fat option and opt for 2% or full-fat cottage cheese to ensure extra absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins K, A, D and E.
If you need deeper sleep, scientists have recently found a solution problem. You don't need white noise, but these sounds.