Five Drinks to Help You Sleep Better and Lose Weight
The concepts of sleeping better and losing weight aren’t at odds with each other. In fact, it’s possible to achieve both with just one remedy.
The answer lies in finding foods that produce a sedative effect on the body, while also favoring weight loss and taking care of the liver. That’s because this organ performs essential detoxification tasks throughout the night.
If you drink one of these natural beverages an hour before bed, you’ll get a good night’s sleep and also optimize your liver function. In fact, you’ll improve your sleep and also lose weight.
Sleep and weight
When you decide to lose weight, your two main focuses are diet and physical exercise. You don’t normally consider the number of hours you sleep.
However, the most recent evidence shows that getting too little sleep (below seven hours) is linked to an increased risk of obesity and increased waist circumference later in life.
The possible reasons for this are linked to the secretion of hormones related to satiety, appetite, the functioning of the nervous system, and fat storage.
On the other hand, being overweight clearly affects the quality of rest. More serious disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea may also appear. This is linked to an increased risk of other chronic conditions.
Therefore, sleeping well could help improve aspects such as feelings of hunger, the correct choice of food, and metabolism.
Protecting the liver means it works well. Some of its functions are essential, such as establishing a balance with glucose.
The liver is also responsible for carrying out certain actions to eliminate harmful substances, prevent fluid retention, and synthesize enzymes and vitamins. A liver that works well at night favors not only a good rest but also makes it easier to lose weight.
Nevertheless, you should bear in mind that poor sleep is only one of the influential factors in being overweight or obese and experiencing difficulties in losing weight. However, there are some home remedies that can contribute to better rest and aid weight loss, when used as part of a successful plan.
1. Grape juice
Natural grape juice is great for your health. Furthermore, it could have some positive effects in relation to body weight, due to the presence of different phenolic compounds and catechins. Grape juice also:
- Boosts your metabolism.
- Positively influences weight loss and maintenance.
- Reduces body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.
Nevertheless, you should bear in mind that fruit juices in large quantities could have the opposite effect. Indeed, when compared to fresh fruit, the latter is more satisfying and allows better control of blood glucose.
If you want to introduce grape juice to your diet to help you sleep well and lose weight, you can drink half a glass after dinner. It’s better if it’s homemade and the grapes are crushed (to maintain the fiber).
You might also like to read: Discover your worst habits that are preventing you from better rest
Interestingly, cherry juice is just as beneficial as grape juice. This fruit helps you synthesize melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating your sleep-wake cycles, according to a study in the European Journal of Nutrition.
2. Chamomile tea
You’ve probably drunk chamomile tea at some time or another to calm you down. This plant that’s been used for centuries in natural medicine contains a compound called apigenin.
- Apigenin is an element that, by binding to GABA receptors in the brain, creates a response similar to a relaxing drug.
- In addition to acting as a mild tranquilizer, chamomile tea is a mediator of the well-being of the digestive system. Therefore, it improves the absorption of food, is a diuretic, and takes care of the liver.
- Don’t drink chamomile tea (or any of these drinks) at a high temperature.
Indeed, although you may think that a hot drink makes you sleep better, it’s preferable that these drinks aren’t too hot as this isn’t good for your intestines or your liver. They’re better drunk warm.
3. Kefir with honey
- The consumption of fermented foods with a high content of healthy bacteria is extremely beneficial for your liver. They help it make more bile from cholesterol.
- Kefir improves digestion and prevents constipation. This is evidenced by a study published in The Journal of Dairy Research.
- Kefir has an ‘anti-stress’ effect. It contains tryptophan, a fabulous amino acid that, together with magnesium, helps promote a good night’s sleep.
- Introducing kefir and milk into the diet has been shown to be effective in reducing weight, waist circumference, and BMI.
Finally, milk or kefir and honey will help you sleep and lose weight. Give it a try.
4. Almond milk
Drinking almond milk with a little honey will also help you sleep better. Indeed, this small touch of glucose can be a great help in this regard.
Anecdotal and observational evidence shows that honey can help you fall asleep. On the one hand, it could guarantee the availability of reserve energy in your liver (necessary for the brain during the night). On the other, the presence of tryptophan favors the segregation of melatonin.
Almond milk also helps regulate high cholesterol or triglyceride levels. This is an added plus point for your health since they’re closely related to overweight and obesity.
5. Cinnamon Tea
Cinnamon is a spice that’s commonly used in the kitchen to add a delicious flavor and aroma to many dishes. It’s also a perfect ingredient for making tea with beneficial health properties.
Cinnamon is anti-inflammatory and it’s believed that it could help increase metabolism, satisfy hunger, and lower blood sugar.
In some studies, its positive effects on metabolic syndrome have been verified. In fact, taking three grams of cinnamon improved certain markers such as body mass index, waist circumference, and abdominal fat.
You might also like to read: The Best and Worst Foods for Your Digestion
Some more advice about drinks to help you sleep and lose weight
Drinking tea, milk, or some juices before going to sleep can help you lose weight. This is thanks to some of the properties they contain. It’s also because improving rest aids weight loss.
However, they alone can’t offer results. They must be included within the context of a general improvement to your lifestyle, one which allows you to reach a healthy weight and enjoy sufficient rest.
For this reason, in case of obesity or significant sleep disorders, you should visit a professional. They’ll be able to help you draw up a comprehensive and personalized plan, allowing for any health problems you may have.
Furthermore, drinking teas based on medicinal plants (chamomile and cinnamon) is contraindicated in the following situations:
- During pregnancy or when breastfeeding.
- For young children.
- Taking drugs or the existence of any disease or health condition (renal, cardiovascular, liver pathologies, etc.). In these cases, you must consult a doctor to evaluate the possibility of consuming any of these drinks.
Including drinks in your diet to sleep better and lose weight
Don’t hesitate in trying any of these drinks. Use them every day and you’ll gradually notice their benefits. After all, as you now know, sleeping better and losing weight aren’t conflicting concepts, they’re complementary.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Cañete da Costa P, Stolzenberg Blembeel A, et al. Daily grape juice consumption promotes weight loss, improved stability and reduced DNA damage in the elderly. International Journal of Nutrition. Julio 2020. 6 (1).
- Ding C, Lim L. L, et al. Sleep and Obesity. Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. Marzo 2018. 27 (1): 4-24.
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