![]() Now it’s no secret that hot chocolate is sugary and I don’t think I need to tell you that you should be brushing your teeth after you drink it.Īnd the thing about the sugar content of hot chocolate is it gives you a spike in energy. So the fact that it helps sleep comes from the relaxing and psychological factors only. Hot drinks make us feel warm, relaxed, and comforted so it is more akin to mental association with sleep rather than a physical. The reason people seem to sleep well after drinking chocolate appears to be the same reason people feel sleepy after drinking a glass of warm milk. These aren’t specifically linked to your sleep quality, so, unfortunately, can’t be used as an excuse to eat chocolate right before bed! ![]() In the hot chocolate powder itself (I looked at the classic which is Cadburys) there isn’t much in the way of vitamins and minerals that could help you sleep.ĭark chocolate or cocoa powder contains polyphenols that have antioxidant health benefits. You’re going to have to consume a LOT of milk to get any noticeable effect on sleepiness and it’s probably not a fantastic idea to consume a load of liquid right before bed! The problem is, the levels of tryptophan found in the milk are not significant enough to really affect your sleep cycle. It also has added health benefits of plenty of calcium and vitamin D to keep your body strong and healthy. ![]() The milk in the hot chocolate does contain the amino acid tryptophan which may affect your serotonin levels. WHAT’S IN HOT CHOCOLATE THAT CAN HELP YOU SLEEP The theory goes that if you consume a nice big, tryptophan-rich meal before bed, you’ll sleep better. This is found in protein-rich foods such as meat and dairy as well as some nuts and seeds. Well, in order for your body to produce adequate levels of both serotonin and melatonin you need the amino acid tryptophan in your diet. It takes over when it’s dark outside and is responsible for managing the sleep-wake cycle of your body. Serotonin is responsible for producing melatonin which is a bit like the night porter of the brain. If your body is producing good levels of serotonin this can give you that wonderful, natural high feeling. Serotonin acts on your brain to help keep you alert and also boosts your mood. Well, it turns out that the neurotransmitter serotonin is the force behind this process. The first question I should probably address is why do we go from being awake and alert to feeling tired and sleepy in the first place? Part of the reason it can help is that it is super relaxing, you get a nice endorphin hit from the chocolate while the warm drink is utterly soothing.Īnd it becomes twice as effective if you had it growing up, if you grew up having a hot chocolate and then going to bed you likely built up an association that tells you when you have hot chocolate it’s time to sleep.Īnd if you had the association as a child it will still exist as an adult so you can tap into it by having hot chocolate and you’ll start to feel sleepy. (Also with milk is the only way to have a hot chocolate at home, none of this water rubbish) I’ve already looked at Horlicks and milk and how they affect sleep and think hot chocolate might be similar in that it can help you sleep but it won’t definitely help you sleep. Hot chocolate is also high in sugar, which is not the healthiest option before bed! The warm milk in the hot chocolate is associated with relaxing you to sleep but the effects are likely more psychological than physical. Yes, hot chocolate may help you fall asleep, especially if you associate the drink with bedtime. I decided to find out so spent many hours researching to bring you this post. ![]() When was twilight sleep used.I LOVE hot chocolate, the sweet delicious beverage is just the best thing.Īnd I’ve always associated a rich, creamy hot chocolate as a great option to sip just before bed (as well to warm up whilst out in the snow!) so I wanted to know what it actually does to my body.
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