Cinnamon Boiled Banana Smoothie: Can It Really Help You Sleep?
A warm banana drink with a little cinnamon can be a pleasant, caffeine-free bedtime beverage, but claims that it will reliably cure insomnia or dramatically improve sleep are overstated.
Bananas contain potassium, magnesium, carbohydrates, and tryptophan, nutrients that have plausible connections to sleep. However, there is very little research specifically showing that boiled banana tea or a banana smoothie improves sleep. A warm, relaxing bedtime routine may itself be helpful.
🥤 Simple recipe
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup (240 ml) water or milk
- ÂĽ teaspoon cinnamon
- Optional: a little vanilla
Method:
- Slice the banana.
- Simmer it in the water for about 3–5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- Blend until smooth.
- Stir in the cinnamon and drink warm.
You don’t actually need to boil the banana to obtain its nutrients; eating the banana normally also provides its fiber and nutrients.
⚠️ A couple of cautions
- Don’t drink a large amount immediately before bed if nighttime urination is already a problem—the extra fluid may make you wake up more often.
- Use cinnamon in ordinary food amounts. Large or prolonged amounts of cassia cinnamon can expose you to coumarin, which can be problematic for people with liver disease.
- If you have diabetes, remember that a banana drink still contains carbohydrates and isn’t a treatment for high blood sugar.
