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7 Foods That Help You Sleep

Short on shut-eye? Try these snooze-inducing bedtime snacks (8 Photos)

Alice Lesch Kelly on May 7, 2010 at 12:31PM

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Tuck in With Turkey

This deli counter staple contains an amino acid called tryptophan. “Tryptophan helps the body produce the mood-boosting brain chemical serotonin, which has been shown to aid in relaxation and sleep,” says Marisa Moore, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Best bet: It takes about an hour for tryptophan to act on your brain, so plan your night noshing accordingly.

Other sources of tryptophan: Chicken, tuna, soy foods, whole-grain bread

Try this: Get a double dose of tryptophan by combining turkey and whole-grain bread.

Filed Under:
- insomnia,
- sleep

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