5 Unexpected Foods That Prevent Insomnia and 5 Foods That Promote It

[no_hypocrisy]

Foods To Prevent Insomnia

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium which serves to calm the body down. Magnesium helps to relieve the stress that can keep us up all night. Just 1 oz. of pumpkin seeds has 151 mg of magnesium, making it one of the most magnesium-rich foods out there.

2. Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese contains tryptophan, a sleep inducing amino acid that relaxes the entire body and mind. If you don't do dairy you can also find tryptophan in soy milk, tofu, hummus, and lentils.

-more-

5 Foods that Promote Insomnia

1. Refined Carbohydrates

These drain the body of vitamin B, which the body needs to release serotonin. When the body can't get enough serotonin, tension, fear, and depression can keep you up all night.

2. MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), often found in Chinese food, causes a stimulant reaction in some people. MSG is almost always found in processed, prepared, and packaged foods. Here's a list of surprising places that MSG hides.

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http://www.alternet.org/food/149722/5_unexpected_foods_that_prevent_insomnia_and_5_foods_that_promote_it/

[FSogol]

1. Beer, Whiskey, Scotch, Gin, and Rum also do wonders for insomnia

Just saying.

[KansDem]

2. You're right! I've tried all five of those.

Usually in the same glass...

[dkf]

3. Sesame seeds for insomnia?

How in the world do you eat a decent amount of those. Too funny.

[katsy]

6. Got it!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Greek-Sesame-Seed-Candy-108524

And it is delicious.

You can buy these premade if you're near Astoria, NY.

[hedgehog]

4. Hmmm -- I ran out of my calcium/magnesium pills a couple weeks ago -

I couldn't figure out why I was sleeping so poorly- time to get back on them, I guess.

Thanks!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. I can vouch for tryptophan.

It used to be available in tablet form, but there were problems. I don't remember now what those problems were, but the tablets were pulled.

It IS found in the foods you mention.

It really worked wonders for me.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Wow!!!!!!!!!! Thanks.

[trotsky]

8. Kind of a mixed bag there of useful and useless info.

Magnesium is an essential mineral, involved in tons of biochemical processes, and if you aren't getting enough, you will have a lot more problems than just insomnia.

Tryptophan, long considered a great natural sleep aid (the "turkey coma!"), was discovered to only be effective if not consumed with any other amino acids / protein. The "turkey coma" is due to a full stomach more than anything else.

MSG, long a favorite target of the alt-medders, has really never been linked to anything other than what would be expected from the over-consumption of sodium, period. I.e., thirst, fluid retention, headaches, etc. Blind studies - even with people who claimed a sensitivity to MSG - have not been able to consistently duplicate the claims.

And so on.