When it comes to losing weight, exercise and diet are key. But what about sleep? You need sleep to give your body the recovery and energy it needs to take on the day.
But your body also burns calories when you sleep—and you could be speeding up that process with just a few simple changes.
Here’s what you should try drinking before bed to burn more calories, build muscle, and improve your blood sugar stability overnight:
- Chamomile Tea: Just one mug of this soothing tea has been shown to spike core body temperature, which your system responds to by cooling itself down. This can help you fall asleep faster and easier. Even better, chamomile can improve glucose control and weight loss!
- Milk: With a healthy dose of tryptophan and calcium, a glass of milk before bed can help you feel sleepier and more satiated before bed. Not only does that help reduce cravings, but milk’s casein protein also allows your body to build lean muscle while you sleep.
- Grape Juice: It’s almost never a good idea to chug sugary fruit juice, but 100% pure grape juice may be an exception. According to a 2015 International Journal of Obesity study, an antioxidant found in grapes called resveratrol can help convert calorie-storing white fat into calorie-burning brown fat. Burn fat while sleeping? Count me in!
- Kefir: This probiotic-rich drink, made from fermented milk, increases healthy bacteria in your gut to help aid in digestion. Aside from regulating your digestive system, kefir has also been shown to improve sleep and exercise performance. The better you sleep, the more you exercise, and the easier it is to shed a few extra pounds!
