But tart cherries, also called Montmorency cherries, come with some additional nutrients, which have given them a reputation for bringing on better sleep:
1. Naturally high amounts of , the “sleepy hormone.”
2. Tryptophan, an amino acid used in the production of and melatonin. (It’s also why you might associate your .)
In , drinking tart cherry juice before bed resulted in longer and more restful sleep.
And while tart cherries’ melatonin and tryptophan would seem the obvious reasons for promoting better sleep, Peart says the reason tart cherry juice may help you relax may also be due to its anti-inflammatory effects.