Getting a good night sleep is so important. Sleep is an essential part of life that allows your body and mind to rest and recharge.
Many scientists and doctors actually say that sleep is just as important as exercise when it comes to your physical and mental health. When you get enough regular sleep, you will:
- Be more productive
- Be able to concentrate easily
- Have lower risk of heart disease
- Be less likely to gain weight
- Be able to exercise more easily
- Have a stronger immune system
- Be able to control your emotions easily
- Happier overall
It is pretty amazing how great sleep can be!
However, many of us do not get enough sleep. The average adult between the ages of 18-60 needs 7 or more hours of sleep per night. This is the amount of sleep that the CDC recommends to keep your body functioning well.
The CDC also says that one third of American adults do not get enough sleep on a regular basis. A lot of us could use a few more hours of sleep every night!
There are many reasons why you may not be getting the sleep that you need. Maybe you have a hard time falling asleep at night or maybe you are just too busy to get in bed at a decent hour. Whatever your reason for lack of sleep, we hope that we can help you overcome those hurdles and get the rest you need and deserve.
7 Delicious Homemade Drinks to Promote your Sleep
We have compiled a list of 7 delicious drinks that will help promote sleep. Enjoy one of these tasty beverages before bedtime and we know that you’ll be off to dream land right away! Take a look at this list and then head to the kitchen to concoct the night time drink of your choice.
1. Homemade Almond Milk for better sleep
A big, warm glass of almond milk is sure to help you fall asleep at night. Studies have shown that serotonin in the brain helps you sleep. The chemical compound called tryptophan helps produce serotonin. Tryptophan is naturally found in almond milk. So drinking a big glass of almond milk will help spike the levels of serotonin in your brain and therefore help you sleep!
Almond milk is also high in magnesium, another nutrient that has been shown to promote sleep. Our recipe for homemade almond milk is easy and very delicious. Soaking whole almonds helps extract the juice, flavor and nutrients from the nuts.
Since you are making your own almond milk rather than buying it at a grocery store, you can rest assured knowing there are no preservatives, additives or extra sugars in the milk. Just pure, sleep inducing almond milk!
2. Chamomile Tea for better sleep
A hot cup of chamomile tea is a classic bedtime drink. Drinking chamomile tea has been used by sleep experts for years to help those with insomnia. Chamomile is known to have a calming effect that can help you relax and unwind after a long day.
Most chamomile teas are caffeine free and will not spike your blood sugar before bed. Drinking a warm beverage is also quite soothing and helps your muscles relax.
Our recipe for Chamomile and Turmeric Tea is sure to help you fall asleep. Both chamomile and turmeric have antioxidants and also antimicrobial properties. They can both help reduce inflammation and relieve any tension or pain you may be having. This delicious combination of flavors is amazing.
» Chamomile and Turmeric Tea Recipe
3. Surprise: Coconut Water
Did you know that a simple glass of coconut water can help you sleep better? This may come as a surprise since coconut water is often advertised as an energy boosting drink. Yes, coconut water will keep you hydrated during the day but it is actually packed with ingredients that will help you relax and rest.
Coconut water contains lots of magnesium and potassium which are both known muscle relaxers. Consuming these minerals before bedtime will help calm your body. Coconut water also has lots of B vitamins which have been proven to reduce stress.
Not only will coconut water help rest your muscles, but it will also sooth your mind. Make a big glass of our coconut water green tea part of your night time routine. You can enjoy it chilled in the summer and sip it hot in the winter.
» Iced Coconut Green Tea Recipe
4. Banana Smoothie
Have you even woken up hungry? Waking up in the middle of the night with a rumbling belly is actually a very common problem. When you wake up hungry, you may have a hard time falling back to sleep.
Rather than get up in the middle of the night to search for a snack, try having a hearty banana smoothie before bedtime. A banana smoothie will fill you up and keep you full all night long.
Besides keeping hunger at bay, eating a banana can also help you relax. Bananas have lots of magnesium and potassium, both of which are known to promote muscle relaxation. Try our spicy banana smoothie which also has flaxseeds, another known sleep aid.
» Banana Spice Smoothie Recipe
5. Tart Cherry Juice
Cherry juice has been shown to dramatically help decrease insomnia. Anyone who chronically wakes up night after night should rejoice! Cherry juice is here to help. And it also happens to taste delicious…
Cherries are full of melatonin, an antioxidant that is known to regulate sleep cycles. Many people who struggle with sleep turn toward melatonin supplements but why do that when you can go right for the real, natural thing? A glass of tart cherry juice before bed and you’ll be having sweet dreams in no time.
Give our Fizzy Cherry Mocktail a try for a super tasty way to enjoy your nightly juice.
» Fizzy Cherry Mocktail Recipe
6. Malted Milk
Malted milk is another classic bed time drink that has been around for ages. Malted milk is made by mixing malt powder into milk to give it a toasty, buttery flavor. The malt powder is made from ground barley and wheat flour and it is full of vitamins and minerals that may help you get a good nights rest.
The B vitamins in malt powder along with zinc, iron and phosphorous are all known to help your body relax. When you can relax, you can sleep! Give our Warm Vanilla Malt a try. It is sure to help you relax, enjoy the night and sleep for hours.
7. Valerian Root Tea for better sleep
Valerian is a sweet smelling flower that has some pretty powerful roots. The roots of the plant have been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. It is well known from promoting sleep and relieving insomnia. However, not everyone is a fan of the strong taste of valerian.
While the flowers of the valerian plant may be beautiful and smell like honey, the roots make for a strong, very earthy flavored tea. However, steeping just 3 grams of valerian root powder in a cup of boiling water will put you right to bed!
Brew a big mug of valerian tea before bedtime and you can join the thousands of people who swear by the power of this root.
When it comes to searching for the perfect bedtime drink, you actually have quite a few options. Give each drink a try and see which works best for you.
A delicious banana smoothie may help you relax and sleep or a warm glass of malted milk may be what does the trick. No matter which drinks you try, they are all sure to be delicious.
Enjoy and sweet dreams!
