Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always an easy task. We have things to read, shows to watch, family to tend to and enjoy, friends to catch up with, meals to cook, jobs to work, dogs to walk, and exercises to do (And we guess we better bathe and eat while we’re at it!). Fitting all these into one day can leave us going, going, going all day long, and when it’s finally time to hit the hay, we lay there wide awake unable to finally drift off. Our adrenaline often leaves us wired, rendering us unable to get efficient shut-eye when it’s time to rest. While life can be one reason this happens, our body’s internal “clock” can be another.

What You Should Know About Melatonin

Melatonin is the hormone that helps send us to sleep each night. It tells our bodies, “Okay, you can rest now,” and in the morning, it regulates what time we wake up. Ideally, your melatonin levels will be so on cue that you’ll drift off and wake up around the same times each day, without needing an alarm clock or sleep aid of any kind. Melatonin is also responsible for many other hormone functions in the body, specifically for women and those going through menopause.

How to Help Your Body Produce Melatonin More Efficiently

This important hormone is also regulated by the sun, which is one reason daylight savings time can interfere with a good night’s rest. It can help to get 15 minutes of morning sunlight each day to start helping your melatonin levels work more properly. You can also eat certain foods that help get your levels back where they should be too. These foods contain certain nutrients that assist with serotonin production, which is necessary for proper melatonin production in the body. Remember, your hormones are always working together to help you, so long as you give them what they need to do their job effectively.

Here are some foods that contain natural minerals that can help you rest and also Support the function of melatonin in the body:

Bananas

Source: Ralph Dally/Flickr

This fruit isn’t just a great source of energy and a dairy replacement. It’s also pretty fabulous at helping you sleep. Bananas contain magnesium, vitamin B6, and natural complex carbs that produce serotonin. They’re also a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and serotonin production. All of these nutrients help send your body to sleep more quickly, and regular consumption may help your body’s natural cues to go to sleep happen a little more easily. Make healthy ice cream with bananas for a dessert, or snack on a whole banana before going to bed. You can also eat them in the afternoon to help you possibly relax a little more easily the rest of the evening, perhaps with a little cashew butter to quell those afternoon nerves!

Oats

Source: Maple Spice Oatmeal

Oats aren’t just delicious and great at keeping your heart healthy – they also help the body produce melatonin more naturally, even when eaten first thing in the morning. Oats contain an array of vitamins and minerals that assist with a healthy nervous system and relaxation. Amino acids, potassium, B vitamins, magnesium, and complex carbs will help you drift off more easily, and even regulate your sleep too. If you don’t enjoy oats for breakfast, use them in place of rice at dinner as a more fiber-rich and nutrient-dense option by cooking them savory-style.

Pineapple

Source: Tim Sackton/Flickr

This incredible fruit is fantastic for your health and can be enjoyed all year round. Because of its digestive benefits, you can also pair it with any meal to help prevent indigestion and digestive upset. Pineapple contains more melatonin-boosting benefits than oats or bananas, making it a great choice if you don’t eat much of the above options. Try to eat a little bit when you can, fresh or frozen (not dried, sugary forms). It’s also great for your immunity and your weight as well.

Oranges

Source: Caitlyn Raegan/Flickr

Oranges are a great source of calcium and B vitamins that can help relax your body, but they also help you produce melatonin more efficiently. Due to their high vitamin C and soluble fiber content, they also make a smart choice for including in your meals or snacks each week. Try blood oranges when they’re in season in the early spring since their deeper color denotes a richer antioxidant content.

Tomatoes

Source: Vegan Cream Cheese Filled Tomatoes

Tomatoes are also a good source of vitamin B6 and potassium, and they contain a little vitamin C as well. They are especially tasty at dinner in a soup, on a salad, or used in a raw lasagna, as an appetizer, or made into salsa. Use fresh when possible, and choose organic since they’re one of the crops most often contaminated with pesticides.

Cherries

Source: Drunken Cherry Coconut Ice Cream

Cherries are well-known for their melatonin-inducing powers. They also help the body fight inflammation, aid in digestion, are low on the glycemic index, and are also great for your heart. Dark, sweet cherries and tart cherries have also both been shown to assist with sending you off to sleep and helping you stay asleep longer. Many people consume tart cherry juice, but we suggest using the whole fruit instead. Cherries are delicious in a smoothie, made into ice cream, or can be used in a variety of savory or sweet dishes of any kind. For a simple option, just have a small bowl before bed or puree with some banana and a little vanilla for a healthy, naturally sweet ice cream!

Source: Sweet Potato Noodles and Coconut Curried Veggies

Other foods that can help you rest include sweet potatoes, brown and wild rice, black (forbidden) rice, barley, pumpkin, winter squash, corn, and regular potatoes. These all contain beneficial carbohydrates for serotonin production, as well as antioxidants, fiber, potassium, magnesium, and several vitamins. Walnuts, cashews, almonds, sesame seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, hemp, chia, and pumpkin seeds are also great at improving serotonin levels and enhancing relaxation. Walnuts are also known to help produce melatonin as well. Stay away from caffeine, spicy foods, and heavy foods that prevent you from drifting off, and if they keep you awake, cocoa or cacao and green tea should also be avoided right before bed.

What About Melatonin Supplements?

For those of you wondering … “Can’t I just pop a melatonin supplement?” you might want to rethink that idea. Many melatonin supplements are made with toxic fillers and possibly even cow urine – yes, it’s true. When you purchase vitamins and minerals, there’s no real way to know what you’re consuming unless they are made from 100 percent plant-based sources. While some trustworthy brands make natural supplements, melatonin is a hormone, therefore, you won’t find it in a more natural form than the kind your body produces on its own. That’s what makes these foods so wonderful; they help your body do exactly what nature intended it to.

Bottom line? Stick to plants, they’ve always got your back, even when it comes to giving you some good ole’ shut-eye.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!