Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly cease (or stop) and starts often causing loud snoring and disrupted sleep. If you suffer from sleep apnea and even if you need to use a C-Pap machine at night, certain dietary changes may help reduce sleep apnea symptoms. There are some beneficial foods to eat to help reduce sleep apnea and some foods to avoid with sleep apnea that will make it worse:
1. Melatonin rich foods
Melatonin will help a person go to sleep and is a natural sleep enhancer. This will allow a person to be able to fall asleep without any medications. Foods that contain melatonin include cucumbers, broccoli, pomegranate, and grapes. If a person eats these foods close to bedtime they will increase their melatonin levels and be able to get to sleep.
2. Foods high in tryptophan
Foods that are high in tryptophan such as milk, cheese, and even turkey will help the body relax and will help a person sleep. These foods will take the serotonin levels and they will help change them to melatonin which will help the body relax and will help a person sleep.
3. Foods high in magnesium
Some foods that are high in magnesium include kale, nuts, and avocados. This will help a person get to sleep and will help reduce the effects that adrenaline has on the body allowing a person to relax.
4. Foods high in calcium
Calcium can help with the sleep issues a person is facing. Calcium can be found in milk and yogurt. Kale and grains are also high in calcium. Calcium is also needed for the development of melatonin and will help the body relax.
5. Foods high in vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is found in foods including sunflower seeds, pistachio nuts, and fish such as salmon and tuna. B6 will help a person get to sleep and will help relax the mind. B6 can also help the body produce additional levels of melatonin.
6. Warm drinks
Certain warm drinks are able to help soothe the mind and the body. A person can try to drink a warm glass of milk or a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed to help them relax and to help improve their quality of sleep.
These are some foods that a person can eat to help them reduce the symptoms they are experiencing from sleep apnea. This will allow a person to get to sleep and will help improve the quality of sleep that a person gets.
