Mediterranean diet associated with better sleep duration and quality

March 11, 2024

Eat this, don’t eat that for the MOST RESTFUL sleep

We’ve all heard about diets for losing weight… lowering blood pressure… and even sharpening our minds. 

But have you ever considered following a “sleep diet”?

Turns out, there are foods explicitly associated with more restful slumber… while other foods could SABOTAGE even your best attempts at catching some zzzzz’s.

And I’m not just talking about avoiding chili cheese dogs and hot fudge sundaes right before bed. 

According to science, here’s exactly what you SHOULD and SHOULDN’T eat in order to FALL asleep… STAY asleep… and wake up RESTED. 

Because there are A LOT of factors that can get in the way of getting a full 40 winks. 

For some, it’s insomnia – or the inability to fall asleep within a few minutes after the head hits the pillow. 

For others, it’s waking up in the middle of the night – perhaps DOZENS or even HUNDREDS of times, as is the case with sleep apnea. 

And still others wake up too early… and can NEVER seem to fall back to sleep. 

A team of researchers recently correlated eating habits with sleep patterns… and found more than a few solid associations. 

Among the “do’s” they discovered for LONGER and BETTER sleep, you may find some familiar pieces of advice. 

DO:

  • Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains to stay asleep longer.
  • Choose fatty fish and full-fat dairy.
  • Load up on fiber-rich food, like whole oats. 
  • Select fruits that contain melatonin (the “sleep hormone”), like strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, and tart cherries.
  • Opt for animal proteins that contain tryptophan (the compound that makes you feel sleepy after a turkey dinner).

In the “don’t” category, the researchers’ tips may SEEM like common sense… but you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t follow this simple, basic advice!

So, in case you need a reminder as well…

DON’T:

  • Indulge in saturated fats, which can deprive you of restorative slow-wave sleep. 
  • Load up on refined carbs, which don’t stick around very long and could leave you waking up hungry. 
  • Booze it up before bed, which could lead to less REM sleep and more sleep disruptions.
  • Buy packaged foods at the market, as they contain heavy metals, pesticides, plastic particles, and other toxins that can harm sleeping habits. 

And needless to say, don’t sip on a cup of coffee during dessert unless you’re planning on staying up for another six or more hours. 

Here’s something you may NOT have thought about…

Any food that contributes to weight gain… either because it’s a “fattening” food on its own or because you’re simply eating too much… can HIJACK a good night’s sleep. 

Because the more you weigh… and the bigger your neck becomes… the more pressure it puts on your airways. 

Your own body could be SQUEEZING itself to the point where you stop breathing in the middle of the night… and find yourself GASPING for air. 

Now, if you’re still wondering how to put together your shopping list for this “sleep diet”… and what recipes to prepare or meal plan to follow…

Let me make it easy for you. 

The Mediterranean diet checks ALL those boxes. 

According to a 2022 review of studies, sticking to the Mediterranean diet is associated with not only LONGER sleep…

But also improvements in sleep quality, as measured by sleep efficiency… sleep latency… and 

less dysfunction caused by sleepiness the next day. 

Keep your portion sizes under control… and don’t eat late at night… and you might sleep better than you EVER thought possible. 

For better health,

Dr. Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D.

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