How to sleep: Eating a banana can ‘help your mind relax’ – expert advice
Sleeping through the night isn’t something everyone is always capable of doing, and there are plenty of tips for improving your sleep quality and adopting healthy sleep routines. If you suffer from insomnia for less than three months, it is called short-term insomnia. Insomnia that lasts three months or more is called long-term insomnia.
For the most part, sleep problems tend to resolve themselves in about a month, according to the NHS.
The NHS says how we sleep and how much sleep we need is different for all of us and changes as we get older.
On average, adults need seven to nine hours, while children need nine to 13 hours. Toddlers and babies need 12 to 17 hours of sleep every day.
People with insomnia regularly have trouble falling asleep and may wake up several times during the night and stay awake at night.
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Indeed, the Sleep Charity says getting a good night’s sleep can be affected by what you eat in the hours before bedtime.
He adds, “Certain foods are known to calm the brain and help promote sleep, so eating the right things at night is definitely part of the recipe for a good night’s kip.”
The charity says: ‘Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium which help relax overworked muscles and make them an ideal snack before bed.
“They also contain tryptophan, which is very important for stimulating the production of these main calming brain hormones. Eat whole or mix into a sleeping smoothie.
Caffeine interferes with the process of falling asleep and also prevents deep sleep.
People who smoke also tend to take longer to fall asleep, wake up more frequently, and often have more disturbed sleep.
“Some people are naturally lighter sleepers or take longer to fall asleep, while certain life circumstances can make your sleep more likely to be interrupted, such as stressful events or the arrival of a new baby. “, declares the NHS.
If lack of sleep is affecting your daily life or causing you distress, you can talk to your GP.