When patients arrive at a hospital, it’s often for a significant medical condition such as a traumatic injury, cardiovascular disorder or digestive health condition. These issues require careful attention from healthcare providers in order to help patients recover and manage their symptoms. Often part of this treatment plan requires attention from hospital food service in order to provide menu options that offer nutritional value to boost healing and overall physical health.
One symptom that accompanies a variety of diseases and disorders is insomnia. Whether patients have difficulty falling asleep or frequently wake up during the night, this condition can either be a direct result of a health condition or a byproduct of the stress and anxiety of a hospital stay. Luckily, food service operators can provide hospital menu items that can help patients feel more calm and relaxed enough to get some much-needed shut-eye at night. Here are a few foods that can be great for dealing with insomnia.
Cherries
Looking for a delicious snack that may help patients nod off a bit more easily at night? You should consider stocking up on sweet or tart cherries. The reason why cherries are so great for promoting better rest and relaxation is because these tasty fruits are loaded with natural levels of melatonin, which is a known sleep aid. Patients may recognize melatonin as the go-to dietary supplement for insomnia in grocery stores and pharmacies across the country.
Even better, cherries in all their forms retain high levels of melatonin. Whether it’s a bowl of fresh cherries, the dried variety or even a glass of cherry juice from concentrate, the nutrient is in abundance. While eating a handful of cherries is not a guarantee that patients will beat their insomnia, this can certainly tip the odds in their favor.
Warm milk and carbohydrates
Plenty of people are still debating the old notion that a glass of warm milk can help you fall asleep more easily, but recent research suggests that this may actually be true – just not in the way many would expect. Though a glass of warm milk does contain the enzyme tryptophan – rumored to induce sleepiness – there’s not enough of this substance to make much of a difference. The trick is combining the beverage with any number of carbohydrates to boost the effectiveness of tryptophan on the body’s sleep cycle.
The reason behind this is because carbohydrates cause the body to produce higher levels of insulin. As a result, insulin actually helps the tryptophan from warm milk to reach the brain. While this effect is only slight, it could make a difference for insomnia patients. Serotonin is also released by the brain when enjoying carbs, furthering the relaxation effect of tryptophan. Calcium in milk is also great for soothing nerves. That’s not to mention the psychological benefit of enjoying a glass of warm milk, which can help people push aside their mental stress and get comfortable.
Bananas
More than just a delicious part of a balanced breakfast, bananas can also be the key to a night of enjoyable and restful sleep. Patients who eat a banana before bedtime will be providing their bodies with beneficial amounts of the nutrients magnesium and potassium. Both of these substances are key for building healthy muscles while also counteracting the physical effects of stress, anxiety and trauma.
Like a glass of warm milk, bananas are also found to have natural levels of tryptophan, which can help with better sleep. As tryptophan is processed by the body, it transforms into melatonin and serotonin – both hormones that have a calming effect on the nervous system.