Good Breakfast ＝ Good Sleep？

Recall what you had for breakfast every day. Did you just grab a slice of toast in a rush again? That could be one reason your sleep isn’t great. Before going further, it’s important to understand the neurotransmitters and hormones related to sleep: serotonin.

Serotonin is also known as the “happy hormone.” During the day, it helps regulate mood and relieve stress, and at night, it is converted into melatonin, which plays a key role in promoting sleep.

Tryptophan is an essential building block for serotonin, but the human body can’t produce it on its own. It must come from food. To ensure you have enough raw materials for melatonin production, a breakfast rich in tryptophan is important.

Many people are familiar with traditional Japanese breakfasts: fish, miso soup, and natto. These classic foods are rich in tryptophan. Pairing them with carbohydrates or vitamin B6, along with morning sunlight, can further support its utilization in the body.

Of course, in today’s busy world, it’s not easy to get up early and prepare a full Japanese breakfast. However, you can still get tryptophan from simple protein sources such as dairy products, eggs, beans, or meat. Oats and bananas are great choices to supplement carbohydrates and vitamin B6.

From a scientific perspective, what you eat at the start of your day is closely linked to the quality of your sleep at night—so don’t just rush through breakfast!

＃Staff J's Breakfast

Plain yogurt with oats, banana, and a hard-boiled egg.
I recommend Koiwai Farm’s plain yogurt!