Fruits and Vegetables Linked to Better Sleep Quality in Surprising Study

Could the secret to a good night's sleep be hiding in your salad bowl? A fascinating new study from the University of Chicago Medicine and Columbia University suggests that upping your intake of fruits and vegetables might just be the natural remedy for restless nights.

The research, published in Sleep Health: The Journal of the National Sleep Foundation, involved 34 healthy young adults who tracked their daily diets while wearing sleep monitors. The results were eye-opening: those who consumed more produce during the day experienced deeper, less interrupted sleep. Even more intriguing, the study found that a diet rich in healthy carbohydrates, like whole grains, offered similar benefits.

According to co-senior author Dr. Esra Tasali, director of the UChicago Sleep Center, the impact is significant. Participants who ate at least five cups of fruits and veggies daily saw a 16% improvement in sleep quality compared to those who skipped out on the greens. That’s a game-changer, especially since this difference was noticeable in less than 24 hours.

Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, another lead researcher from Columbia, emphasized the empowerment this brings. Small dietary tweaks, she noted, can put better rest within everyone’s reach. While the study is observational and relatively small, it opens the door to a cost-effective, natural approach to sleep health—one that doesn’t require a prescription.

Experts caution that more research is needed to confirm causality and understand the mechanisms behind this link. Still, the takeaway is clear: loading up on nature’s bounty could be a simple step toward sweeter dreams.