Bedtime snacks 'could help people sleep'

People who have difficulty falling asleep when they go to bed or lie down on their mattress could find the old remedy of drinking a glass of milk before bedtime useful.

According to Kerala Online, consuming dairy products before going to bed may help people sleep as they are a source of tryptophan, an amino acid converted into melatonin and serotonin which are both thought to induce sleep.

A small snack is advisable and should contain carbohydrates with a small amount of protein.

Ideal foods are some yoghurt, a small bowl of cereal or an apple with a few pieces of cheese. Peanut butter, bananas and oats are also considered to contain tryptophan, Kerala Online suggests.

However, it is important not to have too much protein as this can have the opposite effect. Many protein-rich foods contain the amino acid tyrosine which stimulates brain activity.

A good night's sleep on a comfortable mattress is just as important for a person's health as eating a good diet and exercising, a doctor writing on Lubbock Online said earlier this month.

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