One glass of alcohol, one draw of nicotine…a sleepless night...

Creado por: The Korean Wave Association artista-ed-impresa, discografia-multimedia 7:30

Seoul, Korea — At the beginning of a new year, many adults’ resolutions are about drinking in moderation and quitting smoking.
Normally, when asked about food that keeps one from sleeping, most people will answer coffee. Caffeine inhibits sleep, but there are other such substances that people aren’t as aware of: alcohol and nicotine.
The alcohol in alcoholic drinks lessens uneasiness and induces sleep by calming the drinker. However that only works with one of two drinks. The amount of alcohol in one or two drinks is small, but if you take in more than that, then the balance of sleep and awakening is broken.
One should avoid excessive drinking, because a large amount of alcohol is bad for the body and bad for one’s sleep pattern.
Nicotine also tends to keep one awake, so if you have a hard time sleeping, you have to be careful of smoking.
Contrary to this, there are substances that induce deep and calm sleep. Most of them contain serotonin or melatonin.
If our bodies produce too little serotonin, it can lead to depression and increase impulsiveness, even to the point of suicidal thoughts. If a person can’t sleep because of stress, depression, or anxiety, he or she should eat or drink foods that speed up serotonin secretion, lessen anxiety, and help one sleep. Warm milk, bananas, potatoes, and almonds are among the foods that provide this benefit.
Also melatonin, which controls sleep and biological rhythms, is secreted more at night and induces sleep, but during the daytime, it decreases, sustaining the awake state. Oats, rice, ginger, tomato, and other foods that contain high concentrations of melatonin and beans, nuts, milk, and bean curd, which speed up melatonin secretion, are helpful when one can’t sleep.


By Yoo Jin Hee (star@jtn.co.kr)
Source: JTN (Original article in Korean)
Photo from JTN DB