The Washington Post speaks to sleep science experts about Nightfood, a new “sleep-friendly” ice cream.
“Part of me is like, I’m jealous I’m not part of this marketing scheme,” said Raj Dasgupta, assistant professor of clinical medicine specializing in sleep at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. “They knew exactly where to strike.”
Yep, right in the taste buds. Nightfood’s ice creams come in flavors such as decaf cold brew, Bed and Breakfast (waffles and syrup), chocolate cherry and Cookies n’ Dreams. The ice creams do not contain melatonin or other sleep supplements, so they will not necessarily help you fall asleep. The point is they will not keep you awake, either: The ice cream is configured to include less of the stuff that can impede your digestion to cause disrupted sleep, like lactose, sugar and caffeine. It also has boosted levels of certain vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, which studies have shown is beneficial for sleep. It is endorsed by Michael Breus, the “Sleep Doctor,” who was a consultant involved in its development.
You could eat Nightfood any time of day without feeling drowsy, but the product is designed for sleep because surveys have shown one of the most common times people tuck into a pint of ice cream is at night, probably while watching Netflix. But can junk food really solve your sleep problems? Probably not, Dasgupta said.
