by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: November 03, 2009   Last Updated: November 06, 2009

After a long and stressful day at work, the idea of laying down on a comfortable bed and sleeping several hours can seem a dream to many. Yet, there are many people that regardless of how tired they may feel they will toss and turn for countless hours each night. Out of desperation therefore, they may look for an easy way out by heading towards the sleep aid compartment of their local pharmacy or worse, by having their physician prescribe them some potent medications that will knock them out.

Yet, there may be many easier and more cost effective paths for a restful night. Indeed, often insomnia may be the result of a not so great lifestyle or rather some bad habits that may conflict with the ability to catch some zzzzzz's. Following are some natural remedies and tips that may help get some well deserved sleep.

-Eat light

That extra large burger with oil drenched french fries and a large horse size cup of a carbonated drink of your choice should be left out of your dinner menu. To sleep well, it is best to not indulge into foods that are particularly difficult to digest. Elaborated dishes, fried foods and grandma's baked bean delight with chili sauce should be therefore eaten for lunch if they are a must in your kitchen.

The digestive system is much more efficient in its work, during the morning, and tends to slow down as the hours go by. For this reason, dinner should be light. What this means is that the food eaten should not be heavy in nature nor too large when it comes to quantity.

-Choose Foods Wisely

There are several foods to choose from if you want to try to get a restful night. Foods rich in triptophan may lend a helpful hand. This substance is known to transform into serotonin which helps relax and eventually fall to sleep. Foods rich in triptophan are turkey of course, milk, cheese, eggs, walnuts, bananas, apples and pears.

Another great help may derive from lettuce. This healthy vegetable has sedative effects that may help release anxiety and encourage a restful night. Of course, lettuce should be avoided by those that have trouble digesting it such as those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

-Dine at the Right Time

You may choose to eat foods that are good for you, but they may still negatively affect your sleep if eaten at the wrong time. Ideally, you should dine at least two hours prior to your bed time. So say good bye to those slices of pizza gulped down at midnight which very likely will cause a bout of acidity that will keep you awake

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