artickle i found which i thought i'd post

Restless? Don't reach for the sleeping pills just yet.* Many snacks you likely have in your home are loaded with naturally occuring, sleep-summoning substances.*
Here are ten options to help you achieve natural shuteye.

1.* Walnuts

They're packed with tryptophan, that sleep-enhancing amino acid that nudges the production of serotonin and sleep-conjuring melatonin.* What's more, in
a study conducted by the University of Texas, researchers found that walnuts produce melatonin naturally, doubling the nut's effectiveness.

2.* Cheese and Crackers

Warm milk might be the go-to for bedtime, but any dairy will do.* Why? Calcium helps the brain regulate the tryptophan (expect to see that particular amino
acid a lot on this list) to produce more melatonin (that one, too).* Calcium also helps stabilize muscle movements, keeping you from tossing and turning.

3.* Spinach

Rene Ficek, registered dietitian and lead nutrition expert at Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating, advises Popeye's favorite for its magnesium content.* Chronic
insomnia can be caused by a lack of magnesium, and dining on spinach (along with other infused Mg-infused foods as fish and whole grains) can combat the
deficiency.

4.* Raw garlic

Stave off vampire attacks and sleep better with garlic.* The pungent cousin of the onion is essential for the body's natural production of melatonin and
serotonin.* And the raw stuff is always better, as your body can absorb it more efficiently.* Just don't kiss your bedmate when you wake up--morning garlic
breath is a relationship-ruiner.

5.* Cereal

No, we're not talking about sugar bombs Fruity Pebbles.* Rather, more modest grains like Cheerios.* When combined with milk, they give your body a one-two
punch in the form of carbohydrates and calcium.* Both help summon sleep.

6.* Bananas

In addition to the previously mentioned magnesium, Ficek recommends bananas for their tryptophan.* They'll induce the brain into making more melatonin
and serotonin, relaxing the body and preparing you for a good night's sleep.

7.* Lettuce

Lettuce contains lactucarium, a natural sedative that affects the brain much as opium does.* Well, not exactly the way opium does, but close enough to
promote a good rest for the night.* Liz Weinandy, RD at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, recommends a salad containing fish or chicken,
paired with fruit, yogurt or whole grain crackers to maintain proper blood sugar levels through the night.

8.* Pretzels

True, pretzels will make you thirsty.* But they'll also make you sleepy.* The snacks have a high glycemic index, which means that, after eating them, your
insulin and blood sugar levels will spike.* This reaction will shorten the time it takes to fall asleep, thanks to the induced increase of tryptophan entering
the brain.

9.* Jasmine Rice

Like pretzels, white rice has a high glycemic index, which helps put you to sleep.* But research published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
concluded that, specifically, subjects who ate jasmine rice fell asleep faster than those who ate other types.

10. Elk

Assuming you've got a big rack of elk in your fridge--who doesn't?--you have a ready megadose of tryptophan.* The exotic meat contains more than twice
as much of the sleep-inducing chemical as turkey breast (746 mg per portion, vs. turkey's 333 mg).* Add a side of potatoes or another carb, and you're
asleep in no time.

And there you have Matt's article which I hope gave you some ammunition to at least try.* However, I think it would be a good idea to print out this article
and show it to your doctor, as he/she knows more about your medical condition than either the undersigned or the author of this article.* If you try any
of these suggestions, please share your results with others.