Having trouble with sleep at middle age? Try these foods

Restful sleep at night can sometimes become elusive as we get older. Not only does it become more challenging to fall asleep, it’s also harder to stay asleep like we were able to in our younger years.

Your sleeping rhythms can change ― perhaps that’s why you’ve noticed you’re adhering to the “early to bed, early to rise” adage. Other sleep and health conditions, including insomnia, also make it difficult to get well-rested and get enough deep sleep. It’s commonly thought that older folks don’t need much rest, but according to the National Sleep Foundation, your needs don’t change drastically as you go from adult to older adult.

Here are a few things you can add to your diet that might help you sleep a little better.

1. Tart cherry juice

The sound of this drink may make you wince, but one study found that older adults with insomnia who drank this potent drink morning and night, for two weeks straight, were able to sleep around 90 minutes longer. Tart cherries are believed to be an excellent source of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate. Another small study found that just drinking the juice for a week increased subjects’ melatonin levels and their sleeping efficiency.

2. Protein-rich foods

If you’ve already jumped on the high-protein bandwagon, there’s good news. No, we’re not talking about a whittled-down waist. A recent study found that middle-aged adults who are overweight, can improve their quality of rest by going on a lower-calorie, higher-protein diet. The protein came from sources like beef, soy, pork, legumes and dairy.

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