An Easy Way to Sleep Better: Just add fruits and veggies

Photo by Ella Olsson

Recently, there was an interesting study released about the connection between food and sleep. Nothing too dramatic, but it's pretty cool what they found.

Researchers tracked 34 people, monitoring what they ate and how they slept. Turns out, the people who ate more fruits and vegetables during the day slept about 16% better that night. Not earth-shattering, but worth paying attention to.

They also found that eating more complex carbs helped with sleep quality. Which is nice to know since carbs get a bad rap sometimes.

What Actually Helps

Fruits and Veggies

The magic number was around 5 cups a day, which sounds like a lot but really isn't when you think about it. A smoothie here, a salad there, some berries with lunch. It adds up pretty quickly.

The cool thing is these foods have natural compounds that help your body wind down. Nothing forced, just working with your natural rhythms.

Quality Carbs

We're talking about things like oatmeal, quinoa, sweet potatoes. The kind of carbs that give you steady energy instead of a sugar crash. They help your brain make serotonin, which is basically your body's way of saying "time to relax."

Bonus Points

Fiber and magnesium seemed to help too, though not as dramatically. Think nuts, seeds, leafy greens. Good stuff to have around anyway.

What Might Not Help

The study suggested that eating lots of red and processed meat might mess with sleep a bit. Not saying you have to give up burgers, just maybe don't make them the star of every meal.

If You Want to Try This

Here's the thing, you don't need to overhaul your whole diet. Just start noticing what you're already eating and maybe add a few things:

• Toss some berries in your morning routine

• Add extra vegetables to whatever you're already making

• Grab an apple instead of chips sometimes

• Choose brown rice over white when you have the option

Small shifts, nothing stressful.

Why It’s Worth It

Better sleep means you wake up feeling more like yourself. More energy, clearer thinking, easier to be creative. And when you feel good, you naturally make better choices throughout the day.

If you're already trying to eat better, this gives you another reason. If you're struggling with sleep, this might be an easier fix than you thought.

Worth a try, right? Your sleep (and your tomorrow self) might thank you for it.

If you need some support in creating a sustainable plan for better sleep, let’s chat! I specialize in holistic approaches to well-being and creativity.