Quality food can enhance sleep

A registered Abuja-based dietician, Mrs Chioma Mmiriukwu, says the quality of food eaten by an individual determines how soundly he or she sleeps.

Mmiriukwu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

She said that the composition of a diet impacted on the quality of sleep an individual had as well as his/her health generally.

According to her, poor quality sleep could lead to diabetes and high blood pressure.

“It is known that poor sleep quality can lead to health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

“Just as foods can impact on health and other areas, it can also contribute to good or bad sleep.

“To improve our chances of quality sleep, proteinous foods like eggs should be eaten four hours before bedtime,” she said.

The dietician also said that healthy fats such as avocado, coconut oil, lean meats and high antioxidant foods could enhance production of sleep hormone.

According to her, vegetables and high nutrient fruits can detoxify high alkalinity which impedes sleep.

Mmiriukwu added that sugary foods, simple foods and processed carbohydrates should be avoided at night because they could impede quality sleep.

She said that a recent study by Purdue University, Indiana, USA, found out that people who were losing weight through a high protein diet slept well.

The expert said the study proved that middle-aged adults who had a low-calorie, high-protein diet were not only able to better manage their weight, but had higher sleep quality as well.

The dietician said the study also found that sleep and proper diet were important modifiers of health and wellness, which had a positive effect on overall health.