Sleep like a baby in seconds by eating this delicious fruit before bed

Getting to sleep at night can be difficult for many of us.

According to the NHS, around one in three people will experience problems with sleep at least once in their lives.

While there are many factors that can determine how well you sleep, such as how much physical exercise you have done that day and how stressed you are, sometimes the act of sleep can evade us for no reason.

However, one social media personality has shared a delicious hack that could make a huge difference to insomniacs.

In a recent viral TikTok video, 21-year-old Emma Leigh made the claim that eating pineapple before bed has helped her “fall asleep faster and sleep so much deeper” than before.

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Known as @emselement on TikTok, she advised viewers to snack on the fruit before bed if they struggle with getting to sleep.

She told followers this is because the fruit increases the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, in the body.

However, is there any truth to these claims?

Max Kirsten, sleep coach and resident expert for Panda London, told the Metro that yes, there is.

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He said: “Eating pineapples or drinking fresh pineapple juice before bed has been shown to raise melatonin markers in the brain by up to 266 percent.

“Tryptophan (an amino acid present in pineapple) naturally boosts melatonin levels (a hormone that signals sleep to begin) and serotonin levels in the brain, causing a calming, sleepy, relaxed feeling.”

As well as its melatonin-boosting effects, pineapple has high water content – something that will keep your body functioning well while you sleep.

Pineapple also has anti-inflammatory properties, he told the Metro, helping to ease any pain you might have.

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“Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties,” he said.

“If discomfort or pain due to inflammation is interfering with your sleep, the anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain might help improve your overall comfort and sleep quality.”

One study, published in the Journal of Pineal Research, backed the claims made by both Emma and Max.

A trial found that men had a “significant” increase in serum melatonin concentration two hours after eating pineapple.

Oranges and bananas were also found to have a similar effect.

The study concluded: “These findings suggest that tropical fruit consumption increases the serum melatonin concentrations and also raises the antioxidant capacity in the serum of healthy volunteers in proportion to serum melatonin levels.”

However, Max noted that eating pineapple alone is unlikely to have a “significant” effect on your sleep.

Any benefits you do see are likely to be “gradual and related to overall wellbeing”, he said.

He recommended other natural sleep aids including warm milk and chamomile tea before bed.

“It’s also important to maintain a healthy sleep routine and address any underlying sleep disorders if you consistently have trouble sleeping,” he added.

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