A warm banana drink before bed can help you get a better night's sleep

A warm banana drink before bed can help you get a better night's sleep

Having a little snack before bed is always very tempting, but it's certainly not the best thing you can do for your body. Of course, you could just settle for the ideal pre-bedtime option, a warm glass of milk — but it's not always the most satisfactory. Now, experts have revealed a certain fruit is packed with nutrients that can help you go to sleep.

LiveStrong has listed the benefits of bananas as nighttime snacks: they're rich in potassium and magnesium, both of which are muscle relaxants of sorts and will help soothe your body. The fruit also contains tryptophan and melatonin, which are both known to promote sleep

The Hearty Soul has a great recipe if you'd rather go for something a little more involved than just a banana. Cut off both ends of a banana and put it in a pot of boiling water, without peeling it. Because the peel is being used in the recipe, it's recommended to use organic, pesticide-free fruit here. Keep the banana boiling for about 10 minutes to obtain delicious banana water, which you can then pour into a mug. The Hearty Soul suggests optionally adding cinnamon to make the drink even more enjoyable. You can still eat the boiled banana — with the peel — after you've used up the water.

If you're looking to kick things up a notch, here's an even yummier recipe that'll satiate your urges and help you get a good night's sleep. Mash bananas up (no peel this time) and add honey. Cook the mixture in a small saucepan on medium heat for 5 minutes. Make sure to stir throughout. Add 1 cup of milk, then a little extra honey and cinnamon. Keep cooking until the honey has dissolved into the mixture. Blend the mixture (but do not fill the blender up more than halfway). While holding down the lid, puree the mix until it has a smooth consistency. Add another half cup of milk and blend again. You'll then have a yummy banana-honey milkshake.

Organic Facts reveals the reason why milk and honey make such a good nighttime snack is their combination results in high amounts of tryptophan being sent to the brain — same as bananas.