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Article: Warm milk not good to induce sleep.(Life - Health)
- Article from:
- Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)
- Article date:
- October 17, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Albany Times Union. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Suzy Cohen
Q: When I was young, my mother made me drink warm milk before bed to help me sleep. Why does it make you drowsy? Do you recommend it for insomnia?
- G.G., Coral Springs, Fla.
A: There are two reasons why milk may cause drowsiness: tryptophan and another protein called milk protein hydrolysate.
First, tryptophan. It's a "miniature" protein (an amino acid, actually) that your body uses to make serotonin, a chemical that slows down all the chattering in your brain and organizes nerve traffic. Serotonin in turn makes melatonin, which you need to fall, and stay, asleep. Other foods besides dairy that contain tryptophan ...