Best Food for Sleep: Top 10 Superfoods To Help You Sleep Like a Baby

9. Lettuce

It may surprise some, but lettuce is actually a member of the daisy family. Believed to have been first cultivated in ancient Egypt and used as a symbol of fertility, there are many different varieties of lettuce grown and enjoyed all over the world. Among the most popular types are butterhead, Chinese, romaine, iceberg, and cos lettuce.

No matter what type of lettuce you prefer, it’s almost a guaranteed powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients. 100 grams of fresh lettuce leaves can give you 247 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin A. Lettuce is also a rich source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and folates. They are an impressive source of phytonutrients and with 100 grams of lettuce containing only 15 calories, they are a worthwhile addition to anyone’s diet.

Lettuce is believed to help you sleep because it contains lactucarium, the milky fluid from the stem, which is actually an opiate with mild sedative and analgesic properties. So for a good night’s sleep, enjoy a thick, lettuce-filled sandwich or tossed salad a few hours before bedtime.

Alternatively, you can brew yourself a cup of lettuce tea to help with insomnia. Simply wash your lettuce leaves (romaine is the best choice) and simmer in water for 20 minutes. Strain into a cup, drink and enjoy each night before bed. The lettuce and the warm water will help you relax and get to sleep easier.

10. Herbal Tea

People have been using herbal teas (also known as tisanes) in many cultures for centuries, dating all the way back to ancient China. It’s widely thought that tea originated in China during the Shang Dynasty in 1500 BC as a medicinal drink. Tea has been an important part of Asian culture as a beverage, medicine and status symbol, and became popular in Britain during the 17^th century.

Tea can be made from boiling fresh or dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots, and are regarded as a key to good health, happiness and wisdom. There are many varieties of herbal tea, from chamomile, cinnamon, dandelion, ginger and peppermint to hibiscus, rosehip, and rooibos. Each kind of tea acts as a great source of flavonoids and other healthy components and can benefit our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being in various ways.

As herbal tea gained popularity in the west, more and more has been studied on its effects and benefits. Some teas may help with cancer, heart disease, diabetes and weight loss. According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, tea has been found to have beneficial effects on diabetes, skin cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer, as well as enhancing cardiovascular and metabolic health.

There are many different types of herbal tea that can help you get to sleep, and you are bound to find one whose taste you enjoy. Valerian root, chamomile, lemon balm, banana, lavender, ginger and turmeric and cinnamon are just a few of them.

Getting enough sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle. You simply cannot live your best life if you aren’t getting adequate sleep. But now that you’ve got 10 new ways to try to get some sleep, what are you waiting for? Go to bed.