I Have Insomnia And I Eat All Nite And Fall Asleep With Food In Mouth!!

Hi: Insomnia Can Be
Amy Colwell – 03/31/2012 – 08:33

Hi:

Insomnia can be especially difficult to manage, as you end up tired and exhausted all day, yet unable to sleep at night when you know you should!

It’s easy to fall into the habit of eating at night (food has a comforting quality as well as providing you with a way to fill the time). The problem with this is that our bodies are not really designed to eat and sleep at the same time, so in a way this is contributing to your insomnia.

I’m wondering if you are using food to help you relax enough to fall asleep. Some foods actually keep you awake while others contribute to a restful sleep. Foods containing tryptophan for example release the neurotransmitter serotonin which helps slow down a “busy brain” to relax you into sleep.

Likewise, there are other foods that make serotonin less available to the brain, contributing to a disturbed sleep.

The process is made a little more complicated by the effects of protein and carbohydrate rich foods which can modify the availability of tryptophan.

Ideally, the best food to help induce sleep would be high in complex carbohydrates (not sugary junk food) as well as containing a small amount of protein, and calcium (which helps the brain use tryptophan to manufacture melatonin – another sleep aid).

Dairy products are excellent foods to help bring on sleep as they contain both tryptophan and calcium.

Lastly, it’s a really good idea to avoid eating late at night (or during the night). Falling asleep with food in your mouth is actually quite dangerous as there is always the possibility that you could choke on it or accidently inhale it into your lungs.

Take care.

Amy