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You may never have heard of a sleep potato or a sleep pea, but they do exist, at least according to a new study published in Sleep Health. Researchers tracked the sleep patterns of 34 folks to see if what they ate during the day affected their nightly snooze. They found that those who ate the most fruits, vegetables and whole grains slept the deepest and were most refreshed in the morning. In contrast, folks eating red and processed meats had the poorest sleep patterns.

The bottom line: If you're apt to skip fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains, like wheat, farro or teff, getting even five servings a day of those healthy foods (I recommend seven to nine) can immediately improve your sleep quality by 16%.

This matters because poor sleep quality is strongly associated with increased vulnerability to stress, cognitive and memory problems, and trouble taking care of daily responsibilities. Long-term, it can lead to high blood pressure, increased lousy LDL cholesterol, heart disease, weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and even colorectal cancer.

If you think you're a restless sleeper, it's time to upgrade your nutrition (see my "What to Eat When Cookbook" for great vegetable, fruit and whole grain recipes) and try 10 minutes of meditation before bedtime in a dark, quiet, cool room with no digital devices. If you need extra help, soon you'll be able to try our sleep coaching program at LongevityPlaybook.com, and, if needed, ask your doc for a referral to a sleep clinic.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.

(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.