How to sleep: Two drinks before bedtime shown to promote serotonin and relaxation

Cheryl promotes vitamins to help with sleep on Instagram

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Sleep is essential for the physical and mental health of a human being. Problems of sleep deprivation are increasing in modern society nowadays. Two powerful drinks to consume before bedtime could help with this ongoing and universal problem.

Turmeric—or more specifically its primary bioactive compound, curcumin—is one of the most popular nutraceuticals in use today.

Like vitamin D, curcumin is one of those nutraceuticals for which research suggests a broad range of potential benefits.

Likewise, turmeric has been used as a traditional remedy in Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities of curcumin can help prevent and relieve an array of health issues that may be impacting your ability to fall asleep, or the quality of it once you do.

Curcumin also enhances serotonin and increases the production of dopamine.

It also aids digestion and has calming properties, which lead to sounder sleep.

In a study published in the National Library of Health, nitric oxide modulation of curcuma longa (turmeric) against sleep deprivation in mice was investigated.

The study looked at the possible role of nitric oxide in the protective effect of Curcumin (Curcuma longa) against 72-h sleep deprivation-induced behavioural alterations and oxidative damage in mice.

The study found that Curcumin extract treatment significantly restored depleted reduced glutathione, catalase activity, attenuated raised lipid peroxidation and nitrite level as compared to control (72-h sleep-deprived) animals. 

It concluded: “The present study suggests that nitric oxide modulation is involved in the protective effect of Curcumin in ameliorating sleep deprivation-induced behavioural alterations and oxidative damage.”

Impacting serotonin levels

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that stabilises a person’s mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness.

This neurotransmitter also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.

A number of studies have found that curcumin increases serotonin levels promoting better sleep.

Chamomile tea before bedtime is another safe bet for better sleep.

Its calming effects may be attributed to an antioxidant called apigenin, which is found in abundance in chamomile tea.

Apigenin binds to specific receptors in a person’s brain that may decrease anxiety and initiate sleep.

People should also shun certain dietary decisions before bed, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

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