Food that promotes sleep

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Food plays an important role in getting a restful night. Paying attention to what you eat can go a long way towards getting a good sleep, say experts.

Almonds, kiwi fruit, walnuts, banana, chickpeas, milk, oatmeal and white rice are food that have ingredients that enhance sleep.

Alphonse Reddy, founder and CEO of Sunday Mattresses, and Ciclo Cafe's culinary head Mrinmoy Acharya, have shared insights on food and easy recipes that could help you get a good night's sleep.

Oatmeal and white rice is high in carbohydrates and has been reported to induce drowsiness when consumed before bed. Oatmeal is also a source of melatonin, a hormone that is stimulated by darkness and signals your body that it is time to sleep.

A salad with dinner would help as lettuce has lactucarium, which is considered to have sedative properties. Chickpeas, commonly known in India as Kabuli channa, is a surprise super food when it comes to sleep.

Aside from being a rich source of protein, chickpeas are also full of vitamin B6, which helps the body to produce melatonin.

Here are some recipes:

• Quinoa, beetroot and orange salad
  Ingredients:
  Quinoa - 50 gm
  Hot water - 150 ml
  Beetroot - one small
  Fresh orange - one
  Assorted lettuce - 100 gm
  Olive oil - one tbsp
  Balsamic vinegar - one tbsp
  Roasted almond - 2 gm
  Salt and pepper to taste

  Method: Take a bowl, put 150 ml of hot water, soak the quinoa for 10 minutes, strain it and put it in a fresh bowl. Add some seasoning like olive oil, balsamic vinegar. Put assorted lettuce mix it properly, and then put it in a fresh serving plate. Take the beetroot, cut into small cubes, and marinate with seasoning salt pepper and balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Put these in the same plate of quinoa and top up with peeled orange slice.

• Spirulina and jaalapeno hummus
  Ingredients:
  Whole boiled chickpeas - 125 gm
  Tahina paste - one tsp
  Garlic - 1/2 tsp
  Extra virgin olive oil - 2 tbsp
  Lemon juice 1/2 tsp
  Salt to taste
  Spirulina 1/4 tea spoon or a pinch
  Jalapenoes chopped one teaspoon
  Spirulina powder 1 pinch

  Method: In a blender, add chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt. Make a smooth paste, slowly adding in olive oil. Add spirulina powder. Add chopped jalapenos after removing from the jar. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Serve cold with toasted pita or melba toast.

• Almond milk creme brulee
  Ingredients:
  Almond milk - 200 ml
  Fresh cream - 400 ml
  Caster sugar - 80 gm
  White chocolate - 60 gm
  Egg yolk - 8
  Demarara sugar (powdered) - 1 tbsp

  Method: In a pan, heat almond milk, cream, sugar and white chocolate for a minute till sugar and chocolate dissolves. Remove and cool. Whisk in the egg yolk and strain. Pour in ramekins. Take a baking tray and place the ramekins. Cover the ramekins with silver foil. Pour water in the tray just to cover half of the ramekins. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 170 degree Celsius. Remove, cool and refrigerate. For serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar covering the top. Use a blow torch to lightly brown the sugar to form a thin layer.

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