It is true that milk contains an amino acid that produces serotonin and melatonin in your brain. Serotonin gives you a mood boost, and melatonin is the hormone your body produces to help you sleep better. To get enough of this amino acid to really make a significant difference to your sleep, you would need to drink up to four litres.
However, a recent study of adults over the age of 60 found that drinking fermented milk over the course of three weeks reduced night-time wakings. Many sleep scientists believe there could be a psychological connection between drinking warm milk and good sleep.
“Serotonin gives you a mood boost, and melatonin is the hormone your body produces to help you sleep better”
Thankfully, there are now many alternatives to dairy milk, all of which carry benefits of their own:
- Oat milk also has amino acids that produce serotonin and melatonin, and it also has proteins that could help with late-night snacking
- Almond milk has magnesium, which is helpful for insomniacs
- Soy milk can also help ease sleep problems
Delicious spiced milk recipes
Whatever milk you choose, think of adding some spices that add even more nutrients to your drink of choice. These three spiced milk recipes are the perfect evening drink to help you unwind before bed:
Ingredients:
Golden Spice:
250 ml milk of your choice
1 tsp turmeric
¼ tsp cinnamon + extra to sprinkle
Vanilla Spice:
250 ml milk of your choice
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp cinnamon + extra to sprinkle
Autumn Spice:
250 ml milk of your choice
1 tsp maple syrup
½ tsp cinnamon + extra to sprinkle
¼ tsp nutmeg
Recipe:
-
- If you have a milk frother, simply mix the milk and spices together and froth in a milk frother.
-
- If you don’t have a milk frother, mix the milk and spices together in a microwave jar and microwave for 30 seconds. Then screw on the lid and shake the mixture, remove the lid and microwave for another 30 seconds – 1 minute for hot, frothy milk!
- Pour into a mug and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
