Although some late-night snacks may aid sleep, it's probably more important to avoid unhealthy foods before bedtime.
The essential amino acid tryptophan, found in many foods including eggs, bananas, dates, milk, peanuts, and poultry, is often touted as a sleep-inducing ingredient.
Consuming carbohydrates at the same time as tryptophan-rich foods is thought to boost the amino acid’s uptake, so simple carb-based meals such as a chicken sandwich, peanut butter on wholegrain toast, a small bowl of porridge or wholegrain cereal with milk may be just the ticket.
But there is limited scientific evidence that tryptophan treats actually have much of an effect on sleep.
A recent study of over 11,000 Spanish university students suggested those with lower tryptophan consumption had poorer sleep quality, however, it’s important to note that these results were self-reported.
