Home LivingWellnessSleepTrying Veganuary? This is how eating vegan food can help you sleep5 ways eating a vegan diet can fix your sleep patterns this JanuaryWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessSleepTrying Veganuary? This is how eating vegan food can help you sleep5 ways eating a vegan diet can fix your sleep patterns this JanuaryWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
5 ways eating a vegan diet can fix your sleep patterns this January
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Milan Gaziev / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Milan Gaziev / Unsplash)
The start of a new year comes with many health and fitness challenges, from Dry January to Veganuary. Veganuary – which started in 2014 – has become increasingly popular with each passing year, with many people going meat-free for the month or trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet.
Whether you’re giving Veganuary a go this January or you’re planning on going vegan for the foreseeable future, there are many benefits to a vegan diet, including improved sleep quality and duration. After the festive season, our sleep patterns are all over the place after weeks of overindulging, so a vegan diet or a vegan evening meal can help you get back into a sleep schedule.
To find out more, I spoke to Martin Seeley, sleep expert atMattressNextDayand he revealed 5 ways going vegan can help you sleep better. If you’re giving Veganuary a try this year, stay motivated with our6 tips for going meat-free for the month.
1. You fall asleep faster
It’s been proven time and time again that there are specific foods that help you drift off easier and sleep deeper (see8 foods that help you sleep & 4 foods to avoidfor our top recommendations). While meats, fish and dairy products are full of sleepy properties, many fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that can help you sleep better.
Leafy greens, a key staple of a plant-based diet, is the main source of this. “From lettuce, kale and cabbage, these leafy vegetables are full of vitamin B12,” says Seeley. “Stable levels of B12 in the body have been associated with reduced insomnia, as well as helping to regulate your sleep-wake cycle. It helps you stay sleepy at night time and awake during the day… and leafy greens reduce the likelihood of high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity.”
P.S. To guarantee a great night’s sleep every single night, invest in thebest mattress.
(Image credit: Nadine Primeau / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Nadine Primeau / Unsplash)
2. Less disruptions or broken sleep
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3. Dreams are less vivid
This might sound strange, but eating vegan meals can help reduce vivid dreams or nightmares which disrupt your sleep and result in you feeling tired and groggy the next day. This is because “vivid dreams are commonly associated with the amino acid, tryptophan, which is usually found in foods like fish, milk, eggs and cheese,” says Seeley. Avoiding these foods or reducing your intake of them before bed can prevent you from having vivid dreams or nightmares and reduce bloating which can cause a stressful night’s sleep.
4. Fewer nighttime pains & discomfort
(Image credit: Gettty Images)
(Image credit: Gettty Images)
5. Boosts your mood
For more anxiety-relieving foods, check out these5 foods that reduce stress & improve sleep.
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