Six festive foods you should eat to get a better night's sleep – according to NHS GP

An NHS GP has shared his top six Christmas dinner foods that might be the secret to a restful slumber, detailing how festive favourites can naturally aid sleep.

Dr Tim Mercer took to TikTok to outline which tasty treats could have you nodding off with ease during the festive season. He explained: "Christmas is time for delicious indulgence for many people."

The health expert singled out foods like turkey and certain nuts as the culprits behind post-dinner drowsiness, noting that these items are "guaranteed to help your sleep."

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While demonstrating with robin figurines in lieu of the actual meat as he's a vegetarian, Dr Mercer, outlined why the traditional bird is often linked with sleepiness. "Turkey contains lots of tryptophan, a chemical that's important in the generation of serotonin," he said. "Enjoying turkey as part of your festive indulgence can lead to relaxation and a better night's sleep."

For those steering clear of meat, Dr Mercer highlighted a variety of nuts and berries as effective plant-based options for conjuring that desired dozy state after a Christmas feast.

He elaborated: "Second on the list are almonds. Almonds are a great source of magnesium and also part of most people's Christmas nut selection. Magnesium has been helped to show people sleep and almonds are a very low glycaemic index food which means they keep releasing sugar slowly through the night, keeping your brain fuelled."

Walnuts were also highlighted as one of the six sleep-inducing Christmas foods, with Dr Mercer noting that they are a "natural source of tryptophan," the amino acid found in turkey. He continued: "Walnuts also contain a high volume of Omega 3 compounds, thought to contribute to brain development, which is an important function of sleep."

Cherries made the list too, praised by the GP Partner as "delicious" and "one of the richest, natural sources of melatonin."

Cranberries, which also contain melatonin albeit in smaller quantities than cherries, were fifth on the list.

Rounding off the list was the surprising addition of hot chocolate, offering a sweet option for those craving something sugary post-dinner. A "lower sugar and caffeine free" variant of hot chocolate was recommended for those looking to fall asleep quicker.

Warm drinks are said to extend sleep duration by 11 minutes and result in fewer sleep disturbances.