Benefits of Drinking Milk before Sleep

Some people believe in the benefits of drinking milk before going to sleep to trigger drowsiness, so they continue to apply it to adulthood, even to their children too. Although actually it still needs a review of whether drinking milk does play a role in causing drowsiness. The benefits of drinking milk before going to bed may be great for those of you who often have difficulty falling asleep at night. Insomnia can be caused by many things, including stomach problems. Stomach hungry or too full can make people unable to sleep immediately. Therefore, milk is considered as the right drink to make the stomach feel comfortable while making it easier for someone to sleep. Some studies have also found that consuming milk 30 minutes or 1 hour before going to sleep can have the effect of sleeping more soundly and sleeping more easily. This effect is thought to arise because milk contains a substance that can trigger drowsiness, namely melatonin. But this data still needs to be confirmed through further clinical research.

Benefits of Drinking Milk before Sleep Seen from a Medical Perspective

Milk can contain the amino acid tryptophan. According to research, these amino acids can help a person to sleep more easily. In addition, tryptophan is also a raw material for brain chemical serotonin which acts to regulate mood, cause a sense of calm, relax, and trigger drowsiness. Tryptophan is also an important nutrient that plays a role in the formation of melatonin, which is the body's natural sleepiness. Tryptophan is contained in a number of food sources of protein and vegetables, and milk, but in very small amounts. Drinking a glass of milk does not simply increase tryptophan levels in the body and cause drowsiness. The level of tryptophan in a cup of milk is not enough to make someone fall asleep. In addition there is no strong evidence to confirm that tryptophan in milk consumed before sleep, can trigger drowsiness. However, you can try combining snacks containing tryptophan, including milk, with a little carbohydrate. Insulin released by the body when you consume these snacks can facilitate the entry of tryptophan into the brain. This method might be effective for you. Many people who like chocolate milk as a drink before going to bed. Though this drink actually contains caffeine and theobromine which is actually a stimulant for the body to stay awake. If many people find it easier to sleep after drinking milk, this could be because of the psychological suggestion that warm milk is a source of relaxation that makes them feel calmer, like being able to feel a calming childhood memory.

Benefits of Drinking Milk Before Sleep in Toddlers

The benefits of drinking milk before going to sleep have also not been proven to cause drowsiness in infants and toddlers. Giving milk before going to bed requires special attention to avoid certain risks.

• Make sure the baby is seated or supported in a sling when consuming milk from a bottle. Consuming bottle milk in a sleep position is at risk of causing ear infections.
• It is best to hold the baby bottle while he is drinking, and avoid leaving it with the bottle alone to avoid the risk of choking.
• Leaving a baby bottle in his mouth while he sleeps risks causing holes in the teeth. At night, teeth are most at risk for cavities because there is less saliva in the mouth to protect the teeth.
• After drinking milk, you should clean your baby's teeth before he sleeps to reduce cavities. Also, avoid adding extra sugar or chocolate to the milk.
• Giving milk in a bottle before bedtime makes it risk not to learn to sleep by itself. If you are more than 6 months old, start reducing milk at night so that sleep habits associated with milk can be lost.
• For babies and toddlers under 2 years, breast milk is more easily digested by the body than formula milk, so that the stomach will empty more quickly and feel hungry. You can overcome this by giving milk pumped milk before.

As you age, you should begin to reduce the number and frequency of children drinking milk at night. Instead, give him water as the best liquid to cover the day. There are many other natural ways to help facilitate sleep, both for children, adults, and the elderly, including regulating the temperature of the bedroom so that it is not too hot or too cold, turning off lights or using a dim light sleep, reading stories to children, listening soothing music, or try aromatherapy to make the body more relaxed. If insomnia still persists, you should consult a doctor for further treatment.