Eating a snack of celery sticks dipped in peanut butter might help you sleep better. Science credits the tryptophan content in peanut butter as one reason. Two tablespoons of peanut butter are said to provide 74 milligrams of the amino acid, per Real Simple. A neurotransmitter in your body, called serotonin, is made with the help of tryptophan. And serotonin is involved in the process of regulating sleep. It also helps produce what is popularly known as the sleep hormone, melatonin, which is responsible for telling your body when it’s time to head to bed.
Consuming tryptophan-rich foods like peanuts was linked with better sleep in athletes, according to a 2019 study published in Nutrients. Celery, too, happens to contain a compound called 3-n-butylphthalide (BuPh) (via MedicineNet) that has been linked to relaxing the central nervous system. Something else that messes with your sleep is getting woken up by a rumbling stomach. And consuming celery sticks dipped in peanut butter can help prevent that, for the same reason the snack assists with weight loss: it will keep you feeling full for longer.
Additionally, as people with blood sugar concerns likely already know, maintaining good levels can assist with better sleep. Both celery and peanut butter may help with blood sugar control. Researchers credit a compound called apigenin and the fiber in the vegetable for this effect. With peanut butter, it’s the spread’s relatively low carb content paired with the high fiber and protein. Celery aside, consuming bananas with peanut butter also offers benefits.