You’ve probably heard the saying, “I need my beauty sleep.” Maybe you’ve even said it yourself. But, is “beauty sleep” really a thing? The short answer is yes. Particularly when it comes to your skin.

When you sleep, your skin rebuilds collagen and repairs damage from UV rays, reducing wrinkles and age spots. Sleep is also known to lower stress — a trigger for acne, wrinkles, rough spots, and other skincare concerns. 

“When I’m talking with patients, this topic comes up a lot,” says Dr. Anthony Puopolo, a clinical advisor for Nava MD. “Along with eating healthy and using the right formulas, getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do for your complexion.”

And while the optimal amount of sleep varies from person to person, one thing is certain: most people aren’t getting it! 

In fact, a survey by the American Psychological Association revealed that just 20% of adults feel their quality of sleep is ‘very good’ or ‘excellent.’  

Fortunately, eating the right foods can make all the difference. Keep reading to learn about 5 bedtime snacks that can help you get a full night of “beauty sleep.”

Sleep Booster #1: Almonds

These crunchy, flavor-packed nuts are a natural source of melatonin, the hormone that puts your body into “sleep mode.” Almonds are also rich in magnesium, a nutrient that’s been shown to improve people’s quality of sleep — especially people with insomnia

Sleep Booster #2:  Kiwi

Can a kiwi a day keep the sleepless nights away? For many people, the answer is yes! This tropical fruit is abundant in antioxidants, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and other nutrients that help you sleep. 

Sleep Booster #3: Lettuce 

Your mother was right when she told you to eat your greens. Lettuce contains lactucin, a compound scientists say can help you fall asleep faster.

Sleep Booster #4:  Cottage Cheese 

Cottage cheese  is packed with the amino acid tryptophan, the same one that makes you tired after eating turkey. Tryptophan boosts your natural levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps you fall and stay asleep.

Sleep Booster #5: Tart Cherry Juice

Like almonds, this delightfully tangy beverage is full of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. So drinking a glass before bed could help you get some much needed shuteye.

Try incorporating some (or all) of these foods into your diet and see how they affect your sleep, and your skin. 

If you need something for the rest of the day, Nava MD can help you access customer prescription skincare treatments, if appropriate, to treat a host of common skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and melasma.

Click here to learn more and get started with you virtual dermatologist visit today.