How To Stop Snoring: Foods That Can Help You Sleep In Peace

D. Sharon Pruitt Pink Sherbet Photography via Getty Images

Roughly half the population snores, and while it is something that's joked about, snoring can put a serious crimp in your life. If you're the snorer and you live with another person, you may find yourself contending with the outfall from their poor sleep.

There are several causes of snoring - from the serious sleep condition sleep apnoea (when you stop breathing and your brain ends up being incrementally starved of oxygen) to the mild snorer who has an overly relaxed tissue in their palate, which vibrates as they sleep.

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An article by AJ Lee from Collective Wizdom suggests that it's this 'floppy palate' that can be tackled, by changing or adding the foods we eat.

Take a look:

Top 5 Foods To Help Stop Snoring

Soy milk(01 of05)

"Cow’s milk actually promotes snoring," says AJ, "in people who have lactose sensitivities. The problem stems from the particular proteins in cow’s milk, which can cause mild to severe allergic reactions. "The allergic reactions promote congestion, which closes the nasal passages, and increases snoring."You may want to try soy milk instead. (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)

Honey(02 of05)

"The swelling in the throat that causes snoring is reduced when you eat honey," says AJ. "Try adding honey to tea before you go to bed. It’s a potion used by opera singers to relax the throat. And to reduce crowding around the larynx. It works for the rest of us as well. Honey can reduce crowding in the small area of the throat from the soft palate to the larynx, and reduce snoring." (credit:Jack Andersen via Getty Images)

Fish(03 of05)

Swap red meat for fish if you can, advises AJ because it's inflammatory. Although the connection between red meat and snoring isn't proven, he adds: "All meats with saturated fat causes slight spasms in the arteries. However, the direct cause-and-effect between general arterial inflammation and the particular inflammation of the nasal passages which we know contributes to snoring."You could try cutting it out for 10 days to see if it has an effect. (credit:Brian Macdonald via Getty Images)

Olive Oil(04 of05)

Again, choose this rather than margarine or lard. "Saturated oils contribute to acid reflux. That’s the reason the hamburger you eat at lunch comes back to haunt you at night with heartburn. The grease encourages the escape of the acids which normally stay confined to your stomach into the upper reaches of your esophagus, causing the burning. The resulting inflammation can even reach your upper esophagus and contribute to snoring." (credit:FernandoAH via Getty Images)

Tea(05 of05)

"Teas decrease congestion and phlegm. Chamomile tea with lemon and honey, common black tea with lemon and honey, green tea, and white tea have all been associated with reduction of congestion in general." (credit:David Emmite via Getty Images)

SEE ALSO:
NHS Tips To Stop Snoring
Maintain a healthy diet and weight. Being overweight by just a few kilograms can lead to snoring. Fatty tissue around your neck squeezes the airway and prevents air from flowing in and out freely.
Try to sleep on your side rather than your back. While sleeping on your back, your tongue, chin and any excess fatty tissue under your chin will probably relax and squash your airway. Sleeping on your side prevents this.
Avoid alcohol before going to bed. Alcohol causes the muscles to relax more than usual during a normal night's sleep. This added relaxation of the muscles makes the back of the throat collapse more readily, which then causes snoring.
Quit or cut down on smoking. Cigarette smoke irritates the lining of the nasal cavity and throat, causing swelling and catarrh. If the nasal passages become congested, it's difficult to breathe through your nose because the airflow is decreased.
Keep your nasal passages clear so that you breathe in through your nose rather than your mouth. Try rubbing a few drops of eucalyptus or olbas oil onto your pillowcase. If an allergy is blocking your nose, try antihistamine tablets or a nasal spray.
Source:

>NHS.UK

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