Table of contents:
- Make use of tea for a good night's sleep
- Choice of teas that you can drink before bed
- 1. Green tea is low in caffeine
- 2. Chamomile
- 3. Lemon balm
- 4. Lavender
"Tea" is more common in the morning. This drink that warms the body can be a source of energy for the body to start the day. However, some people prefer to drink tea at night before going to bed. Is there a choice of tea that is best drunk before bed? Come on, find the answer in the following review.
Make use of tea for a good night's sleep
If you have trouble sleeping, drinking tea can apparently be an alternative to help sleep. However, you need to pay attention to the best time to drink tea.
The reason is, tea also contains caffeine like coffee, although the levels are less.
Caffeine is a substance that can increase alertness. This compound has an effect that is inversely proportional to theanine. Theanine is a type of amino acid that is useful for improving sleep quality.
So that drinking tea does not interfere with sleep, you should not drink tea right before bed. It would be better if this drink is enjoyed in the afternoon or at least 2 hours before you get to bed.
Apart from time, pay attention to the portion of tea you drink. Just drink a glass of warm tea to help you feel more comfortable. You can also compensate by taking a warm bath so that your more muscles will relax and sleep more soundly.
Choice of teas that you can drink before bed
If you want to get the relaxing benefits of tea for sleeping, there are several types of tea to choose from, such as:
1. Green tea is low in caffeine
According to a study in the journal Nutrients, one of the ingredients in green tea, namely theanine, can reduce levels of the hormone cortisol in the body.
When cortisol levels are high, it means you are feeling stressed. Well, stress can make your brain more active, making it difficult to sleep.
When your cortisol levels drop, your brain is less stimulated and you become more relaxed. This feeling of calm is what can make you sleep better.
To get the benefits, you can drink a cup of low-caffeine green tea before bed. Low levels of caffeine allow it not to interfere with your sleep.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile tea is made from a plant asteraceae. The flower part is dried then mixed with hot water or boiled together with water.
The chamomile plant has long been recognized as a mild sedative. That is why, chamomile is used as a treatment to reduce anxiety, inflammation, and insomnia.
One of the antioxidants, apigenin, is found in chamomile. According to studies in the Author Manuscript, apigenin binds to receptors in the brain, reducing anxiety and making you calmer.
Drinking this tea before bed can help you sleep better.
3. Lemon balm
Source: Urban Leaf
Lemon balm or otherwise known melissa is a type of mint plant. The leaves of this plant are usually extracted and used as aromatherapy.
Not only that, lemon balm leaves can also be dried and used as tea.
Just like aromatherapy, lemon balm has calming properties that can reduce stress. If you drink this tea before bed, you will relax and fall asleep easier.
4. Lavender
Source: Natural Food Series
Just like chamomile, lavender is also known as aromatherapy. In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans often added lavender to their baths in order to get the soothing aroma of the aroma.
In fact, this plant can also be made into tea. The goal is the same, to calm the muscles, nerves and mind.
Study on Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported that 80 women in Taiwan felt less tired after drinking lavender tea daily for 2 weeks. This suggests that drinking lavender tea before bed makes sleep better.
