Reset Your Sleep Schedule Naturally

We've all been there—you've tried counting sheep, endlessly flipping the pillow to the cool side, and drinking glass after glass of warm milk until you're up to use the bathroom every 10 minutes. Sometimes, no matter how badly you want to fall asleep, the Sandman manages to carefully slip out of your grasp. 

What if you didn't have to live that way?

Melatonin supplements aren't recommended for long-term use, and there are easier ways to naturally stimulate melatonin production...ways that might be in your kitchen as we speak

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Grapes

Most people know that alcohol is a depressant, which can help with sleep, but few people know that you can go directly to the source for improved sleep. Avoid the risks of snoring and sleep apnea by enjoying a handful of grapes before bed. Whether they're red, green, or in-between, grapes have been shown to contain melatonin.

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Goji Berries

Goji berries aren't called a superfood for nothing! Not only are goji berries packed with antioxidants, along with vitamins A & C, they're also loaded with melatonin. In fact, when dried, goji berries have the most melatonin of any dried fruit, with nearly 5x more the melatonin content of raisins. Goji berries can also help lower blood pressure and sugar, which may lead to better sleep.

Pineapples

Pineapple may be controversial on pizza, but there's nothing controversial about its sleep benefits. Eating pineapple can lead to increased levels of melatonin in your blood stream in just two hours! In addition to containing melatonin, pineapple is also high in tryptophan and serotonin. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin to help you sleep.

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Bananas

Bananas themselves aren't particularly high in melatonin, but they can aid its production nonetheless. Like pineapples, bananas are great sources of tryptophan and serotonin, which can stimulate sleep. While your body naturally produces serotonin to help with your sleep-wake schedule, it cannot produce tryptophan. This means it's extra important to get these acids from elsewhere.

Cherries

Some people have difficulty falling asleep without something sweet. If that's you, we totally understand where you're coming from. However, sugar before bed will only keep you up longer. If you want a sweet indulgence before hitting the sack, you're better off getting those sugars naturally. Both sweet and tart cherries have melatonin, though tart ones may be a little higher.