SLEEP BREAKTHROUGH USING JUST FRUIT AND WATER!

VICTORY FOR SLEEP!!!!   Had to share this breakthrough for sleep using just fruit and water!  Through my research and personal trial, I found something that actually helps:  Banana Peel & Tart Cherry Juice Tea!  As I mentioned in my last blog post, I have been having a heck of a time sleeping even with Tylenol pm or Benadryl, which are the only “safe” sleep aids for pregnancy.  Then I was praying for something to help me and stumbled upon Rachael Ray show’s clip from Board-certified sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus about banana peel tea.  Well, I googled and found the link to his 5 tips to get a better night’s sleep.  I tried his sleep smoothie, but it bothered my already-sensitive tummy – perhaps the mix of the tart cherry and kiwi was too much.  But found that another one of his suggestions was a success!

 

WHAT WORKED BANANA PEEL & TART CHERRY JUICE TEA

So I decided to make the banana peel tea and throw in some tart cherry juice – which is a lovely combination of natural fruit flavors.  As you can read below the scientific reasoning behind these fruits helping sleep.  I am not usually susceptible to medicines and especially not food that makes you sleepy – suffering with on/off insomnia for a decade.  So, I was amazed that this fruit tea sent me off to la la land for a week!   I mean I have had REM sleep with vivid dreams while before I would stare at the ceiling for hours using mediation, counting, praying for a little bit of sleep, etc.

 

HOW TO MAKE BANANA PEEL & TART CHERRY TEA:

How to: In a big pot, add water (I do 24oz at a time), 3 banana peels (you can just eat the actual fruit), then add about 6 oz of TART cherry juice (lots of different brands out there – I used Cheribundi). Boil for 10 minutes and let sit.  I put it in a pitcher and then in the refrigerator with banana peels still in it just to have that added melatonin. Then I just pour myself maybe even 4oz-8oz at bedtime!  Of course, as any pregnant woman, I wake up throughout the night to pee or get more comfortable, but then just pour myself some more tea to get back to sleep.  The only downside is it is a liquid so makes me have to hit the potty more often, but I am going to work on a more concentrated version.

 

WHY DO BANANA PEELS & TART CHERRY JUICE HELP SLEEP:

According to Prevention Magazine article about how Tart Cherry Juice has been proven to improve sleep.

Cherry juice is a natural source of the sleep-wake cycle hormone melatonin and amino acid tryptophan, says study coauthor Frank L. Greenway, director of the outpatient research clinic at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at LSU.

 

 

Even Doctor Oz has a recipe for Sleepy Banana Peel Tea

Don’t you throw away that peel!   Banana peel tea is high in this compound tryptophan, which has

neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin from tryptophan.   Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that’s often prescribed in supplement form to treat sleep problems.

 

Doctor’s Health Press notes scientifically proven 8 Healthy Uses for Banana Peels – including using as a sleep aid!

 

SLEEP FOR KIDS?

I have even given my toddler some tea when she was sick and not getting enough rest.  I am no doctor, but feel that due to the ingredients being completely natural and safer than supplementation of melatonin, I think it’s most likely safe.  Maybe ask your OB or Pediatrician for an added security.  But I am thinking this could really help on those nights or during travel when my little one just can’t fall asleep on her own!

 

HAPPY DREAMING YA’LL!