Milk has long been used as an excellent sleep remedy that helps regulate the natural sleep patterns of the body and relaxes the brain to promote sleep. This is because milk contains high amounts of tryptophan and melatonin which improves the brain's responses to darkness and helps the body fall asleep naturally. Tryptophan is an amino acid which is converted to serotonin and melatonin inside the body and these hormones help in relaxing the brain. Melatonin is a sleep-inducing hormone which improves the body's circadian rhythms and helps with sleep.
A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, in 2015 examined the properties of milk in a clinical experiment conducted on mice. In the study, it was concluded that milk consumed at night helped in promoting induced sleep in mice rather than during the day. The findings suggest that drinking milk at night can be an effective treatment for aiding sleep. There are several ways to consume milk at night if you don’t like to drink plain milk. Some options include making milkshakes with other sleep-inducing ingredients like berries, bananas and avocadoes, or making a warm milk drink with spices like turmeric, cardamom or cinnamon.
Now that you know the reasons to drink milk at night, try these amazing milk-based drinks and aid your sleep cycle. Along with milk, these drinks also contain other sleep-inducing foods that join forces with milk to aid your sleep.
7 Sleep-Inducing Milk Drinks To Try
1) Berry Milkshake
Berries like strawberries, raspberries, goji berries and other berries are known for aiding sleep. When mixed with milk, it can be a foolproof remedy for you to enjoy a sound sleep at night and feel relaxed. Just blend whatever berry you can get your hands on and prepare this decadent milkshake.
2) Kiwi Milkshake
Kiwi is a source of melatonin which aids sleep. Blending kiwi in milk to create a shake combines both the powers of milk and kiwi together to help with sleep. Just peel the kiwis, make its pulp, combine with milk, add healthy sweetener and savour right away.
3) Banana and Almond Milkshake
Bananas contain several vitamins and minerals that help in fueling the body and make it feel full. Almonds help in producing Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) in the body which reduces excitations in neurons and promotes relaxation. Making a milkshake with these two ingredients can work extremely well for sleep.
4) Turmeric Milk
Turmeric is known for its majestic sleep-inducing quality which also helps in promoting relaxation due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric milk also known as golden milk is filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds which aid sleep.
5) Avocado Milk Smoothie
Avocado is a source of magnesium and potassium which are linked with promoting sleep. Making a delicious smoothie by combining avocado and milk can help you relax naturally and fall asleep.
6) Warm Cinnamon Milk
Cinnamon contains a compound named cinnamaldehyde which plays a huge role in promoting sleep. When you mix cinnamon in milk, it becomes a tonic for sleep and its regular consumption will effectively improve your sleep cycle over time.
7) Warm Cardamom Milk
Cardamom, when mixed with milk, becomes a stress and anxiety-relieving tonic that helps in putting you to sleep. It is because cardamom also contains melatonin which over time can help in reducing sleep disorders.
Milk can be the ultimate solution to alleviate sleep disorders and improve the body's natural ability to sleep. If you don't like to drink plain milk, these milk-based drinks are a must-try for you.