May 14, 2024

Sweet Dreams: How Cherries Can Help You Sleep Better

Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being. If you’ve been tossing and turning lately, you’re not alone. Insomnia affects millions of people worldwide. But fear not! There’s a delicious solution that might just help you catch those elusive ZZZs: cherries.

The Cherry Connection

Melatonin Magic

Cherries, especially tart cherries, are a natural source of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycles. Consuming cherries can boost melatonin levels, potentially improving your sleep quality. Montmorency cherries, with their tart taste, pack a melatonin punch. So, consider adding these ruby-red gems to your diet.

Tryptophan Triumph

Cherries also contain a small amount of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in the production of serotonin and melatonin. But here’s the twist: tart cherries keep tryptophan in your body longer. That means not only will they help you fall asleep faster, but they’ll also keep you snoozing soundly throughout the night.

How to Enjoy Cherries Before Bed

Fresh Cherries: Pop a handful of fresh cherries about an hour before bedtime. Their natural sweetness and juicy texture make them a delightful pre-sleep snack.
Tart Cherry Juice: If fresh cherries aren’t readily available, opt for unsweetened tart cherry juice. Sip on a small glass to reap the sleep benefits.
Frozen or Dried Cherries: Keep a stash of frozen or dried cherries in your freezer or pantry. They’re convenient and still packed with melatonin.

Watch the sugar in your cherries folks!

Watch out for added sugar! While cherries are naturally sweet, avoid sugary cherry products. Too much sugar can disrupt your sleep, defeating the purpose.

Next time you’re craving a midnight snack, reach for cherries. They’re not only delicious but also a sweet pathway to dreamland. Sweet dreams!

Here is a link to an article of research on cherries and sleep improvements in older patients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3133468/

Also we have our Sleep clinic in Early June. Early bird registration is available now. All on Zoom we will meet each evening at 7pm for five nights and discuss all things sleep, do some fun experiments together and get you sleeping better.

here is the link ENROL NOW SLEEP CLINIC WITH DOMINIQUE

Link to our Sleep podcast from last week in case you missed it!

Here I am at Eumundi Markets where you can find me on Saturdays. We love oiur free community clinics there and welcome you to come and say hello!

Dominique LivKamal, ND is an award-winning naturopath, herbalist, and wellness advocate. She’s passionate about empowering you on your wellness journey.

She holds a Masters degree in Public health ( Health Promotion) Bachelor Health Science ( Complementary Medicine ) is a qualified Naturopath , herbalist and nutritionist.

She has three published books and is a constant student in wellness and life

Dom also has a diploma in Journalism, is a qualified Kundalini yoga teacher and Zen Thai Shiatsu Therapist and yoga teacher.

Dominique is founder and naturopath at Medicine Room. She has developed the herbal manufacturing processes here for herbal extractions and has been offering free community clinics to her clients since 2004.

We are available if you want some assistance.