Answer:
There is no scientific evidence that warm milk will help you achieve a good night’s sleep but if having a warm glass of milk is part of your nightly routine it’s advisable not to change as the routine itself may be helping you.
At one point or another, you may have heard that having a glass of warm milk before bed will help you achieve a better night’s sleep. But is this really the case? or is it just a myth that has gained momentum over time? Like any good myth, there are some elements of truth to consider. As with anything related to sleep, the answer is complicated, and there are varying opinions.
In details
We’ll take a look at some of the reasons warm milk may aid with sleep and bust a few commonly held myths along the way.
We can’t discuss warm milk and sleep without first covering Tryptophan. Along with milk, Tryptophan is also found in turkey and assists with sleep. Most of us tend to feel sleepy after indulging on Thanksgiving Day. As a result turkey, meat and warm milk are both are thought of as useful in helping us get a good night’s sleep.
While milk contains the Amino Acid Tryptophan, it is just one of 20 essential amino acids we need. Tryptophan is not produced by our bodies naturally. Instead, it comes from foods high in protein such as milk and meat products. Amino acids for those unaware are the building blocks for protein and metabolism. Our bodies convert Tryptophan into Serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter. One of the roles neurotransmitters perform is to regulate sleep.
- As milk contains Tryptophan, you would think milk is great for inducing sleep.
- But, the human body is a complicated organism.
- It just isn’t a simple process of having a glass of warm milk before bed and expecting to go into a sleep state.
The reason being is the Tryptophan has to find its way to your brain if it is to be effective in helping you relax. To do this, it needs to cross the blood brain barrier which puts it in the path of other competing Amino Acids. Competing Amino Acids tend to break Tryptophan down.
It is true that Tryptophan on its own can assist with sleep. But the small amounts found in milk or turkey contain many competing Amino Acids. These competing Amino Acids nullify the chances of the Tryptophan reaching the brain.
Why do I feel sleepy after Thanksgiving Day dinner?
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|
| Overeating | Eating more than usual on Thanksgiving can cause drowsiness as the body directs energy to digestion. |
| High Carbohydrate Intake | Foods like desserts are rich in carbohydrates, which increase serotonin production, leading to sleepiness. |
| Digestive Energy Demand | Digestion requires a significant amount of energy, making the body feel more fatigued. |
| Feeling of Contentment | A satisfying meal brings a sense of comfort, making relaxation and drowsiness more likely. |
| Alcohol Consumption | Many people enjoy alcoholic drinks during Thanksgiving, which can contribute to drowsiness. |
| Tryptophan Misconception | While turkey contains tryptophan, it is not solely responsible for sleepiness, as many other foods contain similar levels. |
Why do babies fall asleep after a bottle of warm milk?
So we know that Tryptophan in milk won’t contribute a great deal to us falling asleep. But the question remains does warm milk help us sleep? After all, babies often will fall asleep on the bottle. Wouldn’t it be accurate to say warm milk helps babies fall asleep? Again there is some truth to this statement. But not because milk contains substantial sleep inducements. The fact is your child will often exhaust themselves on the bottle. Additionally, your baby associates milk with ‘nap’ time and falls into this routine. Kids respond well to routine after all.
It’s this routine that is the reason both babies and adults associate warm milk with sleep. The fact that many of us believe warm milk does help us sleep serves to help us relax. Warm milk becomes part of our bedtime routine.
Summary
So does warm milk help you sleep? The scientific world doesn’t credit warm milk with helping us sleep. But It’s wise not to go changing your bedtime routine just yet.
It’s often the routine itself that is helping you sleep. If warm milk forms part of this routine I encourage you to drink up, it’s not going to do you any harm.
