Did you know? Cheeries and Sleep

Did you know a cherry can help you sleep?

Americans work a lot, play hard and stay up late so as a result many of us are sleep deprived. As a new mom I understand that all to well-known feeling of heavy eyes and a lagging body. Therefore, most of us turn to caffeine or energy drinks to help us get through the day. In Seattle you can often find two Starbucks sandwiching a Tully's Coffee house showing the high demand for a stimulant in my home town. I enjoy coffee houses for the tasty beverages, relaxed atmosphere and a fun outing to meet a friend but I don't want to depend on my morning cup of coffee to get through the day.

What food can help aid sleep? Cherries! This tart yet sweet fruit can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. According to the National Sleep Foundation and  Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D, a biomedical scientist, "When consumed regularly, tart cherries may help regulate the body's natural sleep cycle and increase sleep efficiency, including decreasing the time it takes to fall asleep." Cherries boost your body’s natural supply of melatonin which can moderate the body's sleep-wake cycle.  I know this study says "may" and "can"  but it can't hurt to eat this healthy snack or side dish and hope for better rest. So next time you want a natural way to get some better sleep reach for a bowl of cherries.

Serving Size: 1 cup with pits

Calories:74