Dr Michelle Dickinson: Nanogirl on milk and sleep

So this week let's talk milk and sleep. 
I think most of us associate drinking a glass of warm milk at bedtime as a child as a ritual that helped us to feel sleepy. 
Previous milk’s sleep-enhancing properties were thought to be sure to tryptophan, but scientists have just discovered a mixture of milk peptides, called casein tryptic hydrolysate (CTH), that relieve stress and also enhance sleep (at least in the mice they tested). The research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has identified specific peptides in CTH that might someday be used in new, natural sleep remedies.  Current medical sedatives prescribed for insomnia work by activating the GABA receptor, a protein in the brain that suppresses nerve signaling. Sadly they also come with side effects and the potential to be addictive.  
The researchers studies mice who were given different components in milk and found that those that were given a peptide in milk known as α-casozepine (α-CZP) fell asleep  25% more quickly and increased their sleep duration by more than 400% compared to a control group. 
Now the suggestion is that keeping this ritual of drinking warm milk before bed might also help adults who are struggling with sleep, and it could help to reduce dependence on sedative pills in the long run. 
Having a glass of warm milk before bed is a tradition that's been passed down through generations as a way to cultivate relaxation, relieve anxiety, and facilitate a more restful night's sleep. Although many people swear by this practice, others say it's nothing more than folklore

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