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Christmas is all about the festive foods and delicious sweet treats that we dream about all year.

But unfortunately, this change in our diets can wreak havoc with our sleep.

A woman sleeping on her back in bed wearing a christmas hat

The good news is that some of these Christmas foods are also known to promote good quality sleep.

But how can food help you sleep?

From turkey to cherries, enjoy your favorite festive foods this holiday season while prioritizing your rest.

A woman lying on her front in bed eating fruit

How can food help you sleep?

Food includes natural sources of nutrition which are essential for good quality sleep.

Popular sleep supplements only come into the picture if and when theres an inadequate intake of such foods.

Turkey with stuffing sliced on a plate

This combination means you’ll feel naturally sleepy and ready for rest.

Youll be happy to know that these ingredients are readily available in most Christmas foods.

6 Christmas ingrediants that benefit your sleep

So which foods contain these helpful ingrediants?

Christmas hot chocolate with marshmallows

This super food also contains a combination of melatonin and magnesium both known to promote sleep.

Walnuts

Walnuts are another versatile ingredient found in everything from salads, cakes and puddings.

Not a fan of walnuts or almonds, how about chestnuts instead?

People having Christmas dinner

Many Christmas desserts include cherries, which are a natural source of melatonin.

The key ingredients should be milk and pure cocoa powder (which doesnt contain extra sweeteners).

Using milk as the base provides tryptophan, which promotes melatonin and serotonin production to support relaxation and sleep.

A woman looking inside a fridge to decide what to eat as a nighttime snack

Warm milk is also soothing and can signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.

leaving you dragging the next day, says Dr Gioffre.

While it may keep the party alive, you will have a hard time falling asleep that night.

A man laying on grey sofa sleeping next to bowl of popcorn

Tips for getting better sleep during the holidays

A woman sat crossed legged on a bed eating a bowl of food and smiling

Young woman is wide awake at night and wants to fall back to sleep fast

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The image shows a sleep deprived woman lying in bed and holding her hands over her eyes

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A woman lying on her side sleeping with a handdrawn thought bubble over her head to show she�s thinking

A woman with dark brown hair lies on her side staring at the back of a white alarm clock that shows the time as 2.30am

A woman with short brown hair sitting on bed with white sheets with a glass of green Spirulina smoothie in hand

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