Cherries for Sleep

Cherries are much more than just a delicious fruit that can be eaten in fruit salads, within desserts, or on their own as a snack. Cherries can improve your health in several distinct ways, including some that may come as a surprise, such as the quality of your sleep.

What Is insomnia?

Insomnia, or the inability to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, plagues a significant portion of the population. Though insomnia can be caused by many factors and is seen in varying levels of severity, the general consensus is that those who suffer from insomnia also suffer from decreased levels of energy throughout the day as well as other unpleasant symptoms like headaches and dizziness.

Though there are many over-the-counter and prescription medications designed to ease the symptoms of insomnia as well as improve quality of sleep, many people are hesitant to become dependent on medicine in order to maintain a regulated sleep schedule. This is where holistic methods and all-natural treatments, such as the use of cherries for sleep, come in.

Does Eating Cherries for Sleep Actually Help?

Many over-the-counter and prescription drugs made to treat insomnia and lack of sleep contain a substance called melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone created by the pineal gland that is directly related to your sleep and wakefulness cycles. Did you know that melatonin is naturally occurring in many foods, one of which is cherries?

Cherries contain significantly high levels of melatonin. This means that if you finish your day with a few cherries for sleep, you’ll likely experience an easier time falling asleep and staying asleep. Cherries are also packed full of tryptophan, an amino acid that aids in the production of melatonin. Additionally, drinking around two cups of pure cherry juice can have very similar sleep benefits to eating a serving of cherries.