Should you drink herbal tea before bed?
It's common knowledge that you should avoid caffeine near bedtime, and many hot teas contain caffeine. Even white tea and green tea have some caffeine in them (unless they're decaffeinated).
To be safe, there are options that are naturally caffeine-free, such as herbal teas. In fact, herbal teas aren't technically teas. They're actually tisanes since they don't contain tea (unless they're blended with a tea plant). Regardless of the type of tea you enjoy, should you drink it before bed?
You've probably heard that a hot cup of herbal tea can be helpful for relaxing you and aiding in a better night's sleep. In some cases, that may be true, although the evidence appears to be circumstantial. If you are going to try tea for sleep, pick up a mix that contains ingredients like valerian root, chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, or another one on this list.
Tea can be helpful for sleep, but Healthline says a supplement will likely be more effective. If you decide to add any new supplements or any of these herbal teas to your diet, consult with your doctor. Some supplements and teas may interfere with other medications you are on.
In most cases, there's no harm in trying an herbal tea before bed (as long as the herb doesn't interfere with your medications or medical conditions). However, there may be some situations when you don't want to test it out. For example, if you make a lot of nightly trips to the bathroom, you may not want to add any more drinks to your bedtime routine.
Some herbal teas are diuretics, meaning that they can stimulate you to make even more bathroom trips. So, if you're concerned you'll have to get up more frequently from this, it may not be the right choice for you. If you have acid reflux, you may also have to be cautious about what you drink (and eat) near bedtime. It's best to consult with your doctor or nutritionist to see what you can and can't have near bedtime.
If you do decide to drink herbal tea before bedtime, keep in mind that it's best to avoid sugar. Sugar may have the opposite effect of what you're looking for.
We hope this blog post helps you determine if drinking tea before bed is something you want to try. If you need additional help getting a good night's sleep and you think your mattress is the problem, please come see us at Mattress Dealzz.
- Jeremiah Stettler