Trouble Falling Asleep? Why Not Try This?

Stay away from protein late at night. You’ll probably be able to sleep better without it!

If you have trouble falling asleep at night, it might be due to eating protein too late — or possibly in a large serving at dinner.

The problem with lots of protein late at night is it triggers production and release of the same brain chemicals you’d release if you had coffee — namely, dopamine and norepinephrine.

Those ‘alertness’ chemicals may be desirable during the day, but are far less so if and when they keep you up all night.

What Should You Do Instead?

Late-night starch (‘carbs’) is the answer to feeling sleepy and falling asleep, not — as I’ve posted previously this week — alcohol.

Having some starch about 80 to 90 minutes before bed will help change your brain chem so you make serotonin. That in turn can trigger melatonin, the so-called sleep hormone. Be sure not to use sugar, just starch.

Starches include rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, yams and so on. Keep the portion small — just enough to change brain chemistry, not become another meal.

I’ll be sending you more tips on other sleep issues in a day or so, as well as ways…