Delicious drink before bed can prevent snoring and 'promote easier breathing'
An expert has revealed that sipping on a tasty drink can help stop you or your partner snoring and get a better night's sleep.
Snoring can disturb you and other people in your household's sleep, as well as causing tiredness and irritability the following day. An estimated 45 per cent of the population are thought to snore occasionally, wth 25 per cent making the horrendous noise regularly.
If you're one of the sufferers, either because it's you who is the snorer or you have a partner who does, you'll know it's really tricky trying to stop the sleep habit. There are lifestyle changes that can be made to help with it, including shedding some pounds if you're overweight, sleeping on your side and not drinking alcohol at least three hours before you go to bed.
Booze can actually trigger snoring due to its relaxing effects on the muscles in the mouth and throat. When these muscles are relaxed, they can cause a partial blockage of the air passages, leading to vibrations and snoring sounds as air is forced through during breathing.
Alcohol can also affect the quality of your sleep as it can lead to a decrease in the time spent in REM sleep. The sedative and depressant nature of alcohol relaxes the body, including the throat, meaning you're more likely to breathe through your mouth and therefore snore.
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But there's one drink an expert does recommend you enjoy at night and that's peppermint tea. Martin Seeley, senior sleep expert at MattressNextDay, explains why the herbal hot drink is the "perfect alternative" to alcohol and how it can help to ease snoring.
"It has purifying properties which help clear the sinuses and promote easier breathing," he says. "It also has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce airway congestion, making it easier to breathe and lessening the chances of snoring."
Other tips Martin recommends include a "secret weapon" against snoring - having a warm shower before bed. As well as relaxing you, the steam from the shower can moisten the nasal passages, reduce nasal congestion, and make breathing easier. He also suggests using herbs in your shower for added benefits: "Elevate your shower experience by hanging a bag of lavender or peppermint around the showerhead, infusing essential oils into the steam for added congestion relief," he says.
The food you eat before bed can also be contributing to your snoring so Martin advises staying away from spicy food, ice cream and milk just before you head upstairs for the night. "Dairy consumption before bed can lead to the production of mucus, which may contribute to snoring by causing congestion and narrowing or blocking the airways," he explains. "The lactose found in dairy is known to encourage excess mucus production and make the mucus thicker and harder to loosen, which can lead to snoring."
If you do want a late night snack, it's best to opt for more healthy alternatives that aren't high fat dairy foods.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if your breathing stops and starts while you sleep, or you make gasping or choking noises while you sleep because you could have sleep apnoea, which can be serious if not treated.
Do you suffer with lack of sleep from snoring? Let us know in the comments below.
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