Warm milk for sleep: does it really work?

Why do we sleep?

It is now scientifically proven that sleep is vital for humans and for all mammals in general.

During the night we relax at all levels, we regenerate our body both physically and mentally, as well as emotionally. In addition, certain immunological and digestive processes also take place during sleep. We feel the negative effects when we don't get enough sleep. When we are sleep deprived, we find it harder to concentrate and feel exhausted. The scientific studies in this regard are now many and thanks to them we are able to dispel some myths about sleep. Let's see some of them:

Does warm milk help you fall asleep?

The question of whether it is easier to fall asleep after drinking warm milk is not so easy to answer. Like any protein-rich food, milk contains tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid from which the body first forms serotonin, the hormone of happiness, and then melatonin, the sleep hormone. However, tryptophan has only been shown to affect sleep in an amount of 250 milligrams. A glass of milk contains only 100 milligrams of amino acid. This does not mean that you have to drink liters to be able to fall asleep better thanks to milk. But a glass of warm milk before bed as a ritual can definitely help you increase sleep. The tryptophan contained in it does not help at all, but the pleasant sensation of the evening ritual almost certainly does! If you opt to drink a glass of warm milk before bed and are lactose intolerant, you can try our fantastic Lactosolution tablets! They can also come in handy on other occasions, so you no longer have to worry about looking for lactose-free foods!

Click here for more information.

How effective is counting sheep?

In a scientific study by the University of Oxford, it was even investigated whether counting sheep actually helps to induce sleep. The study showed that counting sheep actually slows falling asleep rather than making it faster. Study subjects were able to fall asleep on average 20 minutes faster if they imagined relaxing scenarios. The rationale for this finding is that counting sheep tends to create stress rather than relax. So, if you want to fall asleep faster, you should avoid counting sheep and imagine a peaceful landscape.

What is the so-called "beauty sleep" about?

The myth of beauty sleep is actually true. Healthy sleep makes our skin more beautiful. The reason for this is that the moisture deposits in the connective tissue fill up during sleep. This makes our skin smoother and therefore younger and healthier. In addition, lack of sleep also causes dark circles under the eyes.

How Much Sleep Is Healthy?

Let's dispel another myth: it's not true that the optimal rest time for everyone is 8 hours of sleep. The need for sleep is very individual and depends on various factors such as age, routine, state of health and the internal biological clock. Most adults need between seven and nine hours of good sleep to feel rested. For example, in the first few years of life, babies need up to 17 hours of sleep per day. As we grow, the number of hours we need decreases. The decisive factor is not only the duration of sleep, but the quality of sleep.

Is sleep deprivation dangerous?

Sleep deprivation manifests itself through various physical and psychological symptoms. As sleep deprivation progresses, the symptoms change. The longer we are deprived of it, the more extreme the effects become. Initially, sleep deprivation is evident through fatigue and apathy. Staying awake causes fatigue to disappear and we feel almost euphoric. As soon as this euphoria subsides, severe physical and psychological ailments appear. These include muscle pain, uncontrolled tremors, slow reaction times, increased irritability, memory lapses, and even hallucinations. So it pays to find time to sleep well.

Other tips for sleeping well.

Eating well: eating lightly and away from bedtime certainly helps you fall asleep earlier. So what to eat before bed? certainly protein dishes such as fish or meat (swordfish, a natural cut or lean red meat are to be preferred).

Relaxing music for sound sleep: music is known to play a fundamental role in the brain and helps in many contexts: anxiety, panic, depression, insomnia. What music to listen to to sleep? we recommend listening to white noises or white sounds such as the sound of rain, of nature, of a waterfall .. it is certainly the relaxing music that allows you to sleep.

Drops for sleep: in our opinion it is not necessary to take psychotropic drugs or powerful sleeping pills to sleep. The precautions described so far are sufficient to establish a good sleep-wake rhythm. In any case, sometimes it is necessary to use drugs to sleep, even if natural food supplements would be preferred: choose those that contain melatonin (melatonin for sleeping is marvelous, even Bonelli's chamomile melatonin is good), passionflower, hawthorn , lemon balm, griffonia, inositol.