People swear by a particular bedtime snack to help you fall asleep faster – and scientists say it works
PEOPLE who have trouble falling asleep have likely given a number of 'sleep hacks' a try.
A bedtime snack that supposedly helps you drop to sleep faster might give you some hope of reaching the land of the nod.
The fact that this hack has gained popularity on TikTok might make you hesitate (and because you've tried every hack possible).
But app users and experts swear by eating pineapple before bedtime, raving about the fruit's melatonin-boosting properties for "the best sleep ever."
You'll have heard of melatonin if you regularly suffer with sleep problems.
It's a hormone that naturally occurs in the body, whose levels rise at night to get you sleepy and return to normal in the day.
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Certain foods can naturally increase the levels of melatonin in your body, with pineapple being one of them.
TikToker Emma Leigh captioned that got over 46,000 views: "Eating pineapple before bed helps me fall asleep faster and sleep so much deeper."
Max Kirsten, resident sleep expert for , says: "Eating pineapples or drinking fresh pineapple juice before bed has been shown to raise melatonin markers by up to 266 per cent.
"Pineapple contains a small amount of an amino acid called tryptophan.
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"Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can promote relaxation and mood regulation. It may have a calming effect, potentially aiding in sleep."
The study that Max refers to, , looked at the melatonin content of fruit.
It found that eating pineapple could raise levels of the sleep hormone in people's pee by a whopping 266 per cent.
Bananas were also observed to up melatonin levels in participants by 180 per cent.
Whether or not this actually influenced people's sleep was not studied.
But Max says eating pineapple generally as part of your diet may be the best way to test its abilities.
Pineapple and bananas aren't the only foods that boost the sleep-inducing hormone.
According to WebMD, tart cherries, goji berries, eggs, oily fish like salmon and sardines, and nuts like pistachios and almonds are steeped with it.
Max says pineapple does not contain as much melatonin as cherries or grapes.
But certified health coach disagrees, and says pineapples increase melatonin production in your body "way more" than drinking tart cherry juice.
The tropical fruit can also be "extremely helpful for bloat and digestion", Valerie added, suggesting using frozen pineapples to make a pineapple cinnamon tea.
Meanwhile, Dr Alan Mandell - known as on TikTok - said pineapple contains a digestive enzyme called bromelain that reduces inflammation in your body and also boosts melatonin levels to help you "get to sleep fast and sleep deeply throughout the night".
A synthetic version of melatonin can be taken for short periods of time by people with sleep problems such as insomnia.
According to the NHS, the tablets add to your body's natural supply of melatonin, so you fall asleep more quickly and you're less likely to wake up during the night.
It's not recommended that you take it for long periods of time and it mostly tends to be prescribed to adults over the age of 55.
Sleep experts have also revealed which foods you should steer clear of at night - their findings might make you reconsider your bedtime snack.
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Max says: "If you're looking for foods that may aid sleep, consider options that are more well-known for their sleep-promoting qualities, such as warm milk, herbal teas like chamomile, or complex carbohydrates that can promote the production of serotonin, like whole grains.
"It's also important to maintain a healthy sleep routine and address any underlying sleep disorders if you consistently have trouble sleeping."