"sleep" news and stories

Wine, fast food, beer, a heavy meal: all things that make you crash right to sleep, right? New research shows that though these foods may help you fall asleep, they don't actually make your sleep any more restful.

Washington Post columnist Jennifer LaRue Huget recently wondered if there were some magic food to solve sleep problems but found that it was more plausible to define which foods actually hinder sleep.

As it turns out, if you want to get a good night's rest, don't consume a ton of fat or alcohol before hitting the hay, as these both have the ability to disrupt the REM cycle, which is when your body actually rests.

The holidays tend to stress us out. Stress makes it hard to sleep. The best thing for you when you're stressed? Sleep. Evolution FAIL.

Everyone knows about tryptophan, that magic amino acid present in turkey that totally knocks you out after Thanksgiving. There's actually quite a lot of it in egg whites, soybeans, and parmesan cheese, too.

It probably doesn't occur to you to get up and eat some turkey in the middle of the night to help you sleep. That's because the protein in turkey and many other tryptophan-rich foods gets your mind ticking. If you awaken from a turkey-induced slumber, you'll find yourself thinking clearly and unlikely to fall back asleep. Conclusion: Turkey is the perfect nap-food.

Here are eight foods and drinks that help you sleep, naptime and/or nighttime:

1. Turkey - the classic nap food.
2. Rice cakes - a food with a high glycemic index eaten about four hours before bed can cause the perfect crash.
3. Milk - also has tryptophan, and is very soothing when warm.
4. Yogurt - dairy foods without a lot of protein are ideal.
5. Wine - don't overdo it; one or two glasses is relaxing; more can disrupt your sleep patterns.
6. Bedtime Tea from Yogi Tea - this tea is serious business.
7. Chamomile tea - your grandmother's version of the same thing.
8. Oatmeal - melatonin, people.

I dare you to have them all in one sitting just to see what happens. Thank you and good night.

Actually, just one specific pillow: this chocolate one from Bonjour Mon Coussin. It'll run you 34 Euros, which is great for the Europeans, but not so great for us Yanks, as long as the exchange rate is all out of whack.

Alas, the pillow is not actually made of chocolate - in fact, it's 100% polyester - but I suggest nibbling on a corner seam just to make absolutely sure.

What's that? You say you're not a chocolate fan? BMC has you covered - they also carry a pillow covered in a pastel macaroon print, and one for the gummy candy lovers.

Gives new meaning to "sweet dreams," eh?

Pity Robert Wood. The Scot has a problem: he cooks in his sleep. According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Wood routinely sleepwalks, but the real problem comes when he gets into the kitchen and starts whipping up dishes - and he's not just heating up soup. His wife, Eleanor, has caught him making omelettes and spaghetti bolognese in his sleep. As expected, the couple is a bit worried that Rob is gonna burn down the house. "Every night, I have to think, 'Is Rob going to cook?'" says Eleanor. And no - no mention of Ambien in the piece.

[Image Coles.com.au]

Source