Making the right decision to embrace vegan diets is not only healthy to your body and the environment but can as well affect your sleep positively. Fresh produce, complex carbohydrates, nuts, and legumes are fundamental foods and are involved in the production of hormones required in the regulation of sleep.
From the point of view of dietary changes that can lead to better night’s sleep, one of the factors that turned out to be beneficial with vegan diet is the increased consumption of magnesium. Moreover, magnesium helps manage nervous system functions involving neurotransmitters that are responsible for the production of sleep-regulating hormone melatonin. Magnesium-rich foods include green, leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds and whole grains, among others.
It has been established that diets which are vegan contain lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol than diets that contain meats. Since fatty and cholesterol-rich foods lead to stomach upsets and can cause irritation to the entire digestive tract, they interfere with sleep. Reducing these problems may be related to a diet that is lower in calories and richer in plants, which will help the patient go to sleep faster and sleep soundly.
Moreover, most plant based foods are equipped with the natural soporific ingredients including tryptophan and the complex carbohydrates. Apart from being an amino acid, tryptophan is known to be an essential constituent of serotonin and melatonin – both of which play a role in controlling the circadian rhythm. fiber foods are known to raise serotonin levels, which is good for relaxation, sleep, and is related to mood.
In addition, generally, animal products’ absence is characteristic of vegan diets, which causes the presence of more fiber and antioxidants that benefit health and decrease inflammation levels for the most part. Sleep disorders involve insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea are related to inflammation.
Although personal experiences with diet differ, incorporating a vegan diet with moderating and improving nutrients in different foods enhance the quality of sleep. Just like with any alteration to the diet plan, do listen to your body and get to adapt to what is best and most ideal for getting the best sleep and general well-being.
