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4 Drinks Before Bed That Will Help You Sleep

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You already know to avoid drinks that can inhibit your body from getting a full night's rest - like alcohol and caffeine - but did you know certain drinks can help lull you to sleep during the evening? 

Curl up with your favorite heated blanket and prepare yourself a glass of one of the following beverages next time you're having a little trouble drifting off into dreamland. 

1. Warm Milk
It may seem like a myth perpetuated by the movies, but it turns out warm milk can actually help your body relax before sleep. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reported that while the drink itself does not make you sleepier, it does contain nutrients that make your body more likely to fall asleep. The beverage contains small amounts of the chemical tryptophan, and while it's not enough to make you fall asleep, it can help you wind down after a long day.

The tryptophan in warm milk can help you fall asleep at night.

2. Almond Milk
Similarly, almond milk has the same effect. The National Sleep Foundation noted that almonds also contain tryptophan, so the increased intake of this nutrient can have a significant impact on your sleepiness level. 

3. Herbal Tea
Tea is the ideal natural remedy for sleepless nights. While the compounds found in tea can help your body drift off, any additional herbs can increase the effectiveness of this beverage. It's important to pick a beverage that's caffeine free, as caffeine will only hamper your sleep cycle. Teavana noted that jasmine and lavender are good choices, but consider one of the following teas for the best results:

  • Chamomile Tea: Chamomile tea, also known as "sleep tea," is the best choice, as the added herb has been scientifically proven to help people fall asleep quickly.
  • Honey Tea: Try adding a tablespoon of honey to your favorite brew of tea - this natural additive not only gives more taste to your tea, but also makes you very sleepy.
Honey, chamomile and peppermint are great additions to your tea.

4. Cherry Juice
Researchers from the University of Louisiana found that tart cherry juice had a considerable impact on older adults with insomnia. According to the study, adults who drank cherry juice each night for two weeks had sleep sessions that lasted an additional 90 minutes.