4 Foods to Prevent Insomnia

1. Turkey

You've probably heard the jokes about the Thanksgiving turkey putting people to sleep, but this folk wisdom has a leg — make that two legs — to stand on. Turkey and the other foods listed above are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that the body uses to produce serotonin, a kind of chemical lullaby, if you will. Serotonin slows nerve activity, calming the brain and spreading a "feel-good" message throughout your body. When darkness enters the picture, the brain converts serotonin to yet another hormone, melatonin, which regulates sleep.

You can also try honey with your warm milk — and the reason the study food bar included carbohydrate — is that a fast-digesting carbohydrate like honey or mashed potatoes stimulates the release of insulin, which in turn allows more tryptophan to enter the brain.