Does Warm Milk Help You Sleep?

Does Warm Milk Help You Sleep?

Limited scientific evidence suggests that warm milk before bed may help you sleep. In a study of people staying in a hospital’s heart unit, those who drank warm milk and honey for three days noticed improvements in sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . A study of adults over age 60 found that drinking fermented milk over the course of three weeks reduced nighttime wakings Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

If you struggle with initiating sleep, milk might be able to help. In a study of people over 65, those who drank more milk and engaged in physical activity reported falling asleep more easily Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source than those who did not.

Why Does Warm Milk Make You Sleepy?

Milk’s sleep-promoting properties might be due to the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan-enriched foods have been shown to improve sleep and mood in the elderly.

Tryptophan plays an important role in the production of serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that impacts mood, cognitive reasoning, and memory Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Melatonin is a hormone released by your body in response to darkness, in order to help you feel like sleeping at night.

Milk collected from cows milked at night Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source contains ample amounts of melatonin in addition to tryptophan. Although only animal studies have been conducted with this night milk so far, it could make humans sleepier than regular milk does.

Is it Bad to Drink Milk Before Bed?

Drinking milk before bed does not appear to have documented negative side effects in most people. Some people, however, might want to avoid milk. For example, people who have a dairy allergy, are lactose intolerant, or have irritable bowel syndrome with symptoms that are worsened by dairy probably should not use milk to promote sleep. If you are avoiding milk, you may want to opt for non-dairy sleep-inducing foods instead.

Some may worry that drinking milk before bed could promote weight gain. However, research suggests a glass of milk at night could help promote fitness. One study found that drinking milk after a workout and before bed Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source helps with muscle recovery. Another study found that drinking milk before bed increases a person’s resting metabolic rate Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , or how quickly they burn calories, the next morning.

Some sleepers may be concerned that drinking milk before bed could lead to snoring. However, contrary to popular belief, growing evidence suggests that drinking milk does not produce more mucus Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

“Warm milk at bedtime can help some. However, consistent sleep schedules and other healthy sleep habits matter more for good sleep.”

Dr. Pranshu Adavadkar

Sleep Medicine Physician

Tips for Better Sleep

For better sleep, it may help to try other foods high in tryptophan, such as:

• Cheese
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Fish
• Sunflower seeds
• Peanuts
• Pumpkin seeds
• Soy beans

If you have tried drinking milk or consuming other tryptophan-rich foods before bed and still struggle to fall asleep, you may want to take measures to improve your sleep hygiene.

• Set a Comfortable Temperature: While everyone’s ideal temperature is different, keep your room cool but not frigid. If you sleep with a partner, talk to them about a temperature you both agree on.
• Establish a Routine: Create and maintain a , so you wind down at the same time each night, including weekends.
• Avoid Certain Foods and Drinks: Avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine at least 2-3 hours before bed.
• Keep Your Bedroom Dark: Try light-blocking curtains or a sleep mask to ensure you aren’t being exposed to light during the night.
• Minimize Blue Light Exposure: Avoid watching TV or looking at a smartphone in the hours before bed.
• Exercise: Exercise regularly, preferably earlier in the day.

Consider talking to your doctor if you still are not getting enough sleep after improving your sleep hygiene. It may be due to an underlying sleep disorder, such as insomnia. Your doctor can help you reach a diagnosis, schedule a sleep study or prescribe medications.