It’s happened to all of us—we’re lying in bed, ready to sleep. But when your head hits the pillow, your body doesn’t want to shut down for the night. You’re tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable. Or, if you fell asleep, you’re waking up once or twice throughout the night, which also impacts your quality of sleep. Something you may not realize, however, is that drinking certain beverages, or the way/how often you drink them, might be the reason your sleep is disrupted.
Adjusting your drinking habits and watching what you drink during the day or before bed may help you fall asleep and keep asleep. We spoke with Lisa Young, Ph.D., RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and The Portion Teller Plan, to give you advice on the best drinking habits to help you sleep.
If you’re a coffee drinker or need your daily caffeine fix. But don’t worry, you can still enjoy your morning cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage. However, that’s about it if you’re trying to sleep better.
“Yes, noon sounds a bit early, but for the best quality sleep, it’s best to go caffeine free in the afternoon and evening,” says Dr. Young.
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Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom? It really is disruptive, especially when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep. That’s why Dr. Young recommends drinking your water, but only up to a certain time.
“Drinking water is super important,” shares Dr. Young. “But if you drink late at night right before bed, you will probably wake up having to go to the bathroom.” “This can disrupt quality sleep.”
The solution? Young advises limiting beverages, including water, an hour before bed.
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If you need something to relax you, a nice hot cup of tea (more than an hour before bed!) can do the trick. Specifically, chamomile.
“This tea is very soothing and may prepare you for bed as well as help you get calm and ease into sleep,” says Dr. Young.
If you’re in the mood for something a little on the sweeter side, sipping on cherry juice will keep you satisfied. And, potentially help you sleep better.
“Tart cherry juice contains melatonin, which can help regulate your circadian rhythm and get you ready for bed,” says Dr. Young.
Dr. Young recommends enjoying this “moon milk combo” for better sleep: tart cherry juice with warm milk.
“The milk contains serotonin, which can also help you relax and a warm beverage tends to be calming,” says Dr. Young.
Kayla Garritano
Kayla Garritano is a Staff Writer for Eat This, Not That! She graduated from Hofstra University, where she majored in Journalism and double minored in Marketing and Creative Writing. Read more
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