When we can’t fall asleep, our parents often prepare a glass of warm milk before our bedtime. They say it helps get us to sleep, and indeed it does! But why is milk a good aide for sleeping? What’s in it that helps an individual feel sleepy?
Milk is actually a rich source of tryptophan, which is an amino acid. This is the magical stuff that helps us get to sleep. Once it reaches your brain, it increases production of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that aids in making you feel sleepy. For every eight ounce glass of milk, there are more or less 112 milligrams of tryptophan, so you’ll surely feel sleepy after drinking a warm glass of milk before your bedtime.
