Bananas contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that your body cannot produce. Tryptophan helps your body produce serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep. Serotonin is an important brain chemical, which is also a natural anti-depressant and can treat anxiety and insomnia. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Pineal Research found that consuming bananas increases the melatonin hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle. But people who have cough problems should not consume banana at night as Ayurveda believes it can lead to mucus formation.
