Insomnia is a common health problem, affecting millions of people worldwide.
Diet can play an important role in improving sleep. Among foods, chicken is rich in protein and essential nutrients, which are believed to help treat insomnia.
A key factor in chicken's ability to help improve sleep is its high tryptophan content. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid needed by the body to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep.
Tryptophan also plays a role in improving sleep quality because serotonin in the body can be converted into melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
Chicken also contains vitamin B6, a nutrient needed for the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin. Vitamin B6 has the ability to help regulate sleep, especially for people with insomnia. Because it is rich in vitamin B6, chicken can help increase the production of serotonin and melatonin in the body.
In addition, the protein in chicken also helps maintain stable blood sugar throughout the night. This can help prevent waking up in the middle of the night due to sudden changes in blood sugar levels.
Nutrition experts from the World Health Organization recommend a balanced diet with sufficient protein to maintain energy and stabilize physiological indicators in the body, thereby contributing to improving sleep quality.
However, eating chicken should not be too much and needs to be processed in a healthy way to avoid the opposite effect, such as causing indigestion or weight gain. Nutritionists recommend choosing lean chicken, simple processing such as boiling or steaming to preserve nutritional value without increasing too much calories.