Sleeping problems: Have walnuts for bedtime snacks and sleep soundly

A good night's rest is vital to our general health as not only will it boost our immunity but it will also keep our brains and digestive system functioning well. And, it will lower our risk of contracting chronic illnesses.

A good night's rest would mean seven to nine hours of sleep for the adults and longer for the young ones. A sleep that is lesser than seven hours is not considered as ideal as even those who are advanced in age would still need to get at least seven hours of sleep in the night.

Unfortunately, for some, hitting the pillow at the right time and getting a sound sleep through the night do not come easy.

According to the Daily Express, having walnuts as your bedtime snacks will help because it is a good source of tryptophan.

Tryptophan is an amino acid found in food that contains proteins. And, it can be converted into molecules used to make the hormones involved in sleeping which are serotonin and melatonin.

Serotonin influences sleep, cognition, and mood while melatonin is the hormone involved in the sleep-wake cycle.

And, this is what makes walnuts a very appropriate bedtime snack. In fact, according to the University of Texas, walnuts even contain their own source of melatonin.

So, if you snack on walnuts before bedtime, you may be able to fall asleep faster. Not only that, but it also lessens the incidence of frequent waking up in the night.

The benefit of walnuts in improving sleep was also proven by a study done by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.

According to the researchers, walnuts are one of the best source for melatonin. And, it is because of the walnut's fatty acid makeup.

Aside from walnuts, other good bedtime snacks are popcorn, whole-wheat crackers, and oatmeal.