Almond study finds 8-minute faster sleep onset

A 20-week study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that adults who consumed 60 grams of almonds daily took about 18 minutes to fall asleep, compared to 26 minutes for a control group. The study involved 175 adults aged 21 to 55 who reported poor sleep quality. Most objectively measured sleep outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Researchers noted that almonds contain magnesium, tryptophan, and melatonin, which may support sleep regulation. The study was funded by the Almond Board of California. The researchers stated that almonds are not a proven treatment for insomnia and the results may not apply to people with diagnosed sleep disorders. The study used a daily serving of 60 grams, or about 50 almonds, though a smaller handful of 20 to 25 almonds can be part of a balanced diet.

For Indian-origin adults in the U.S. looking for dietary sleep aids, this suggests a daily handful of almonds may slightly improve sleep onset time.