4 Healthy Bedtime Drinks That Promote Sleep And Burn Fat

It’s no secret that obesity is at an all time high in the US. Three out of four people are overweight, and 33 percent of them are obese!¹ When overweight problems invade, sleep disorders cannot be far behind. After all, these two problems are interrelated. Sure enough, studies at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that an astounding 50-70 million US adults have sleep or wakefulness disorders.²

Improper sleep and obesity is a deadly combination and can have permanent health repercussions. To complicate matters, the relationship between obesity and sleep disorders is that each is the result of the other. Sleep disorders cause obesity and obesity results in sleep disorders. You cannot separate the two and both must be treated together for a permanent solution.

Healthy Drinks To Promote Sleep And Burn Fat

If only there was a way to kill two birds with one stone! Interestingly, there is a way. Drinking certain easy-to-make health drinks before bedtime can promote sleep and help you burn fat.

1. Cucumber, Lemon And Ginger Drink

Cucumbers are high in soluble fiber that binds with the fatty acids and helps remove them, which reduces the total fat intake from your digestive tract. Their alkaline properties balance your body’s pH level and neutralize the effects of an acidic diet.

Ginger is famous for its powerful digestive properties and helps glucose regulation. It also curbs cortisol levels and helps burn fat.³

Lemons detoxify and alkalinize your body, reduce your chances of hypertension and strokes, and improve your cardiovascular health.⁴ More importantly, they can significantly reduce weight gain from a high-fat diet.⁵

Ingredients

• 5-10 slices of cucumber with skin
• 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
• 6 oz. water
• 1 lemon freshly squeezed

Instructions

1. Blend the cucumber slices and grated ginger with water until smooth.
2. Add the lemon juice, stir well and drink it.

2. Cherry And Aloe Vera Drink

Research has shown that tart cherry juice reduces the severity of insomnia and increases melatonin levels, which improves your sleep duration and quality.^{6 7}

Aloe leaves contain a variety of antioxidants and are a widely used traditional remedy for diabetes. It regulates blood glucose levels and aids weight loss.⁸ Since aloe vera has laxative properties, drink it in moderation.

Ingredients

• 2-4 oz. tart cherry juice
• 1 oz. aloe vera juice
• 8 oz. cold water

Instructions

1. Mix the cherry juice and aloe vera juice together in a glass.
2. Add the cold water, mix well and drink.

3. Milk, Nutmeg And Honey Drink

A warm glass of milk before bedtime makes you sleep like a baby. Contrary to common belief, milk is not fattening as studies have shown. In fact, drinking milk regularly may prevent weight gain.⁹ Milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which promotes sleep.¹⁰

As children, we all have had a spoonful of honey before bedtime to achieve better sleep. Honey promotes relaxation and a restful sleep. The natural sugar in honey allows tryptophan to enter your brain more easily, which helps induce sleep.^{11 12}

Nutmeg is an effective home remedy for insomnia, especially when mixed with warm milk. Its rich magnesium content helps reduce nerve tension and stimulates the release of serotonin, which in turn induces sleep. Studies show that nutmeg contains trace elements of narcotics that promote relaxation and sleep. It also has a thermogenic effect that boosts metabolism to burn extra fat while you sleep.¹³

Ingredients

• 1 cup full-fat organic cow’s milk or non-dairy milk
• 1-2 teaspoon honey
• A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (not more than 1/8 of a teaspoon)

Instructions

1. Heat the milk and allow it to cool till it is lukewarm.
2. Mix the honey and grated nutmeg into a glass of lukewarm milk.
3. Drink it immediately.

4. Apple And Psyllium Drink

Apple pectin (a soluble fiber present in apples) enables the body to assimilate fats into fatty acids.¹⁴ The antioxidants in apples reduce oxidative damage and associated inflammation. Apples help in digestion of food and also aid weight loss. A study has found that eating three apples daily helps in weight loss.¹⁵

Psyllium husk is an edible soluble fiber that promotes waste removal from your colon. Research has also proven its benefits in reducing blood cholesterol levels.¹⁶

Cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels, improves metabolism and helps burn fat.¹⁷

Ingredients

• 1 apple
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 teaspoon of pure psyllium husk or powder
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder

Instructions

1. Without peeling the skin, cut up the apple and blend it with water until smooth.
2. Add the psyllium husk and cinnamon powder and stir well.
3. Drink this juice immediately before the psyllium thickens.
4. Drink another glass of plain water immediately after you finish the juice.