Insomnia Diet

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Avoid taking any stimulants, such as foods and beverages containing caffeine, refined sugars, or chocolate, too close to bedtime. Be aware that caffeine "buzz" lasts from six to eight hours and plan accordingly.

Avoid alcohol within two hours of going to bed. The traditional nightcap may wake you feel drowsy at first, but alcohol results in light, unsatisfying sleep and the sedative effect wears off in four hours. This rebound effect may leave you wakeful in the wee hours.

Avoid eating and exercising for three hours before bedtime. Food and exercise both boost the metabolism and the heart rate, leaving you wakeful, not sleepy.

Make sure your diet includes foods containing the amino acid tryptophan, which helps to stabilize moods and alleviate stress. It is used by the brain to produce serotonin, a chemical that regulates the mechanisms of normal sleep. Foods high in tryptophan include bananas, cottage cheese, fish, dates, milk, peanuts, and turkey. Having complex carbohydrates such as pasta or rice for dinner is a good sleep-inducer, too.


Food.Medicine (quantity) Caffeine Content
Chocolate, milk (1 oz) 1-10 mg
Chocolate, dark (1 oz) 5-35 mg
Chocolate cake (1 slice) 20-30 mg
Cocoa, hot (6 fl oz) 2-20 mg
Coffee, decaffeeinated (6 fl oz) 2-7 mg
coffee, drip/brewed (6 fl oz) 80-175 mg
Coffee, instant (6 fl oz) 60-100 mg
Cola (12 fl oz) 45 mg
Espresso (2 fl oz) 90-110 mg
Tea, black (6 fl oz) 200-100 mg
Anacin or Midol (2 tablets) 64 mg
Excedrin (2 tablets) 130 mg
NoDoz (2 tablets) 200 mg


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