Listening to your body is usually a good thing. When we feel truly hungry between meals, snacking is okay experts say. But what about when the urge to eat hits us in the later hours of the night? Here are some healthy – and restful choices to make for midnight snacking.
• Cherries
If you’re a fan of fruit, stock up on cherries for when the late-night snack cravings hit. Not only will they satisfy a sweet tooth, but they are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Cherries (and their juice) also contain melatonin — a hormone that helps with your circadian system and sleep. A small study on 20 volunteers concluded that the group who consumed tart cherry juice every day for 7 days had higher melatonin levels, which increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency.
• Nuts
Craving salt late at night, that’s nuts! Instead of chips, reach for a handful of crunchy nuts. Whether you’re a fan of peanuts, almonds, cashews, or pistachios, they all contain healthy fats that can benefit your heart by reducing “bad” cholesterol levels. Research has also linked nut consumption with the reduced risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Like cherries, nuts have high levels of melatonin. A 2017 review claims that nuts are the highest plant food source of melatonin. Of all the nuts you can choose to snack on, pistachios and walnuts have the highest content.
• Greek yogurt
You could satisfy an urge for ice cream by stocking up on its dairy relative, yogurt. More specifically, choosing Greek-style yogurt gives you an additional boost of protein while providing vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. Probiotics are healthy bacteria found in certain foods that can keep your gut health thriving. Be sure to check the package for “live active cultures” to ensure that the probiotics are there.
https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/l...

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