Is Milk Good Before Bedtime?

Yes, milk is good before bedtime because it can help you sleep. Milk contains tryptophan, magnesium and zinc which are essential for serotonin and melatonin production — both of which can contribute to sleep promotion. Additionally, research suggests the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components in milk and other dairy foods may contribute to improved sleep quality. Sipping a warm beverage can also have a calming effect as part of a bedtime routine.

So, when you drink warm milk before bed (or cold milk, if that’s your thing), you’re not only nourishing your body with essential nutrients, you may also be helping your body sleep more easily.

Is It Bad To Eat Cheese Before Bed?

No, eating cheese before bed is not bad. In fact, it can be a beneficial bedtime snack. Cheese provides eight essential nutrients and similar to milk, it contains tryptophan.

Cheese also provides high-quality protein, including casein, which is important for muscle repair. When we sleep, our body undergoes a considerable reset process. So eating casein foods like cheese before bed can leverage this nightly recovery and maintenance. Protein foods are also satisfying and can thereby have a calming effect, making that charcuterie board even more enticing at night.

So, if you enjoy cheese before bed, you might find yourself resting easier as your body recovers and repairs, allowing you to wake up ready to seize the day.

Is It Bad To Eat Yogurt Before Bed?

No, eating yogurt before bed is not bad. Yogurt provides nine essential nutrients, including protein and zinc. That, alongside the tryptophan it contains, makes yogurt a smart addition to a sleep-supporting diet. But there’s another reason this gut-healthy dairy food may lead to better sleep.

Research suggests that fermented dairy foods, like yogurt, can contain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that may help sleep quality. Fermented dairy foods like yogurt also have unique bioactive compounds that can have anti-inflammatory properties, which contribute to a restorative night’s sleep. Lastly, as a probiotic food, yogurt fuels a healthy microbiome, which may support mental health and wellbeing via the gut-brain axis.

So, a nighttime ritual that includes yogurt may help ease your mind and body, together supporting a better night’s rest.

What Happens When You Have  a Dairy Dilemma?

While dairy foods may help you rest easier at night, not everyone can enjoy a late-night dairy snack in the same way. Conditions such as lactose intolerance and dairy allergy will directly affect the type and amount of dairy foods a person can tolerate. If someone has a dairy allergy, it’s best to avoid dairy foods entirely. Alternatively, people who are lactose intolerant might not have to give up dairy completely—they could benefit from lactose-free dairy foods or lactose-friendly tips, such as giving Greek yogurt or lactose-free milk a try.

Dairy's Bedtime Benefits: A Short Summary

Dairy food nutrition can benefit you throughout the day and night. Here’s a short summary of dairy’s bedtime benefits:

• Dairy foods contain tryptophan, magnesium and zinc, which are essential for serotonin and melatonin production — both of which can contribute to sleep promotion.
• The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components in milk and other dairy foods may contribute to improvement in sleep quality.
• The high-quality protein in dairy foods like cheese can have a beneficial bedtime calming effect and support restorative sleep.
• Some fermented dairy foods, like yogurt, contain GABA which may help improve sleep quality.