The answer to feeling amazing everyday is simple: Get enough sleep. Getting less than 6 hours of good sleep a night is not so great. You increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and viral infections, but snoozing 6½ to 7½ hours can drop the odds.
I don't know about you but I need a routine to get ready for my night slumber. Every night a few hours before bedtime, I curl up with one of the following sleepy-time snacks:
Almonds: These puppies are one of my favs. They are so healthy and help you sleep better. Just a handful is all you need. They contain muscle-relaxing magnesium and sleep-inducing tryptophan, which increases the brain's level of feel-good serotonin.
Bananas: Beneath the peel is a trifecta of soothers: serotonin, magnesium, and melatonin, your body's natural sleep regulator. Be sure not to have these every night because they can cause constipation.
Skim milk: Turns out my Nana was right -- a warm glassful will help you sleep better. The milk's tryptophan has a sedating effect. Plus, the calcium helps your brain use that tryptophan.
Oatmeal: It’s not just for Breakfast! Make sure you aren’t using the instant stuff. Oats are rich in sleep-regulating melatonin. If you drizzle just a little honey on top, it tells your brain to turn off orexin, a neuropeptide linked to alertness.
Whole-wheat bread: A slice of toast dotted with banana slices releases insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain. Make sure the bread you use doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup. A lot of the loaves you can buy at the grocery store have that ingredient. Just read the label.
