🌙 Warm milk at bedtime

Warm milk at bedtime is a glass of gently heated milk drunk before going to sleep. A glass of warm milk before bed is an old home custom. Many people believe it helps them fall asleep. What does science say?

Milk contains tryptophan. This is an amino acid the body uses to make sleep chemicals such as melatonin. But one glass of milk has little tryptophan. On its own, it is unlikely to have a noticeable effect on sleep. Milk from cows milked at night has more melatonin. But so far this has only been tested on animals. There are a few small studies in people. In one, patients who drank warm milk with honey for three days said they slept better. But there is little data like this.

Most likely, the ritual itself is what matters. A warm drink helps you relax and get ready for sleep. For most people milk is safe. But if you have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance, it is better not to drink it. And for good sleep, going to bed at the same time every night matters more.