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Written by Navneet Kaur, M.Sc. Nutrition & Dietetics
Diet
For general health and well-being, getting a good night's sleep is vital. A number of things can impact sleep, from stress to dietary intake. One such link that has come up now is protein intake.
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Protein, being a macronutrient, is required for several bodily functions, from cellular levels to making hormones, etc.
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Our bodies disintegrate proteins into small chain peptides and amino acids, and researchers have shown that these amino acids might influence the neurotransmitters that assist in managing sleep.
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Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that directly impacts our sleep and mood. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is required to produce serotonin, thus affecting our sleep.
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Tryptophan is also required to make melatonin, which synchronises sleep.
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Glycine, a non-essential amino acid, works as a neurotransmitter and helps in lowering body temperature and blood flow, thus enhancing the onset of sleep.
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Who doesn't love a good night's sleep? Guess what? Protein, with its other functions ranging from the cellular level to hormone synthesis, etc., might also help synchronise sleep. One more reason to amp up your protein intake.
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