Insomnia, the inability to fall and stay asleep, affects many people worldwide, irrespective of race and gender. While different people respond to different insomnia remedies, alternative medicine doctors often recommend melatonin (a sleep promoting hormone) supplements to treat the condition.
New research indicates that some fruits may contain significant amounts of melatonin and offer a simple, natural and delicious way to fight sleep problems. When eaten close to bedtime, these fruits may raise the level of the sleep hormone in the blood and help people get a good night's sleep.
What is Melatonin?
Responsible for regulating natural bio- rhythms in the body including the sleep-wake cycle, melatonin plays an important role in the body. The levels of the hormone rise at nighttime in preparation for sleep and fall in the mornings to promote wakefulness. Associated with a host of health benefits in addition to easing insomnia, the hormone, a potent antioxidant, may also lower blood pressure and increase the chances of survival in patients with advanced stages of cancer. While melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the body in small quantities, it is also naturally present in milk, some grains such as corn and oats, and fruits such as wine grapes and tart cherries.
Tart Cherries for Jet Lag
A rich source of antioxidants, cherries have numerous health benefits associated with them. Small studies show that the anthocyanins (compounds present in some fruits and vegetables) in tart cherries specifically may benefit conditions that involve inflammation and pain such as arthritis and gout.
A new study done at the University of Texas Health and Science Center reported that cherries contain considerable amounts of melatonin, the sleep regulating hormone. Tart cherries, according to the study can raise blood levels of melatonin, reset the body clock, and fight insomnia. Dr. Russell Reiter, the researcher http://greatist.com/sleep behind the tart cherry-melatonin study recommends eating dried cherries an hour before sleep time to fight jet lag and relieve insomnia.
Wine Grapes and Melatonin
Wine grapes, particularly the purple variety, may also contain significant amounts of the sleep hormone. An Italian study published in the Journal of Food and Agriculture in 2006 reported that wine grapes contained noteworthy amounts of melatonin. All the 8 different grapes tested in the study came from the Northeastern region of Italy and the crops were at the same level of maturity. The study showed that the Nebbiolo grapes, followed by https://www.facebook.com/events/1443439479293519/
