Are you aware that there are actually foods for insomnia, and the fact that some of the many foods you eat may have a serious effect on your sleep patterns?

I'll give you an illustration. Consider the Atkins diet regime which was really popular A couple of years ago. The reason it was widespread was simply because it did wonders. A lot of people lost unwanted weight on the Atkins meal plan which urged it's supporters to enjoy a great deal of meat and other protein foods along with foods full of fat for example fried eggs and sausages. On the banned list were bread, pasta and other carbohydrate food.

How does dieting affect our sleep? As it turns out, several individuals on the Atkins diet regime noticed they were having trouble going to sleep at night even if they'd never previously had sleep difficulties. The reason being their carbs were so limited, they developed a disorder called "Serotonin Deficiency Syndrome"

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter created by the body through eating foods that contain the protein tryptophan. Tryptophan is commonly found in foods containing carbohydrates such as rice, pasta and bread. If your diet is too low in carbohydrates you will most likely be deficient in serotonin.

Serotonin is transmuted into melatonin through the pineal gland. Melatonin is the sleep hormone that configures our circadian rhythm. Devoid of melatonin, our sleep-wake cycle is disrupted.

So that's why it's recommended to have a high protein breakfast together with lunch and hold the carbohydrates such as pasta, rice and potatoes for supper.

Additional foods for insomnia that provide serotonin consist of dairy products for example cheese, seafood, whole grains, lentils, peanuts, milk, eggs, sunflower seeds, soy and hummus.

Foods that tend to keep us awake contain tyramine. Tyramine is an amino acid that triggers the release of a brain stimulant called norepinephrine, which can keep us feeling stimulated all night . Tyramine containing foods consist of ham, bacon, sausages, cheese, aubergines, tomatoes, red wine, peppers, smoked meats, fish and, (unfortunately), chocolate.

How about what we drink? The majority of of us understand we ought not drink coffee, tea or cola before bed, but what about those allegedly healthy energy drinks? For example the ones that give you wings? Energy drinks can cause regularly occurring insomnia, especially among young adults who use them to stay awake a bit longer to enable them to study. Suppliers of these so called "beneficial" drinks purposely target our young folk with their advertising.

These energy drinks are quite addictive and contain high levels of caffeine and taurine. Taurine is another amino acid that causes a restless state. These drinks turn out to be especially hazardous if alcohol is included. This is because you're combining the energy drink, which contains stimulating elements, and alcohol which is a depressant. We simply do not need these drinks to feel full of energy. All we are getting are sleepless nights, even if we drink them in the early morning.

All we really require for energy is water, the correct foods and sufficient rest. Choosing the right foods for insomnia and avoiding energy drinks can drastically improve your sleep. Worth a try!