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Dr. Oz’s 2-Ingredient Banana Tea Is Like Sleep in a Cup

The natural insomnia remedy you need in your life.

Of all the natural insomnia remedies out there, drinking banana tea for sleep may be the most surprising — but it makes sense why this method is effective at sending you off to dreamland in a matter of minutes. Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about bananas, this magical yellow fruit surprises you.

Banana Tea for Sleep

The magnesium and potassium in bananas make it a popular treatment for trouble sleeping. Magnesium is “a mineral that is deeply connected to restorative, deep, relaxing sleep by way of how it acts of neurotransmitters in the brain,” Samantha Cassetty, RD, tells First for Women. That said, nearly two-thirds of Americans aren’t hitting that recommended daily intake of magnesium, according to a September 2017 review published in the journal Scientifica

Drinking banana peel tea is an easy way to increase your magnesium consumption. This in turn can help you spend less time in bed tossing in turning, sleep longer, and wake up less often during the early morning hours. 

The research on sleep and potassium is a bit hazier, and there is no definite link between low potassium intake and sleep problems. However, recent studies indicate there may be some sort of relationship between the two. In a February 2014 review published in the Journal of Sleep Research, “potassium was associated with less daytime sleepiness.” Potassium also acts as a muscle relaxer, so that may play a role in affecting sleep. 

Banana Tea Recipe

It’s up to you to customize your own banana tea recipe, but the basics are so simple; all you need is a medium-size banana and water. Cinnamon is a nice addition, but it’s an optional spice. 

First, cut off both ends of your banana and let it sit in a bot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Then, strain the liquid from the pot and pour it into a mug. Dr. Oz’s banana tea recipe says to drink your concoction one hour before bed. And if you’re feeling adventurous, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon in your cup. You can even eat the boiled banana and it’s peel. Sweet dreams!

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