I've posted a ton about the difficulties with my mom waking up at all hours of the night. A little less than a week ago I started fixing her a bowl of cereal before bed. She's slept at least 8 hours per night ever since! It's mind blowing, honestly, and such an incredible relief that we don't have to worry about what trouble she might get into at night.
Anyway, I wanted to post in case it's helpful to someone else.
(Still can't respond to posts, lol)
- her full stomach which prevents hunger pangs in the night;
- her full stomach may be absorbing fluids so that a full bladder doesn't wake her up (if this has been an issue -- I know it can be for me);
- and the fact that the milk contains L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps with sleep.
"L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid — meaning your body cannot make it on its own, so you have to get it from foods like turkey, chicken, eggs, dairy, nuts, and seeds. It plays a crucial role in building proteins, but it’s best known for its role in sleep and mood regulation.
🔹 Why It Can Make You Sleepy
L-tryptophan itself doesn’t directly cause drowsiness. Instead, your body uses it to make important brain chemicals:
Tryptophan → Serotonin
In the brain, tryptophan is converted into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that stabilizes mood and promotes a sense of calm and well-being.
Serotonin → Melatonin
At night, serotonin is further converted into melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle.
This is the key step that links tryptophan intake to sleepiness."
Source: ChatGPT5