EatThis, NotThat - Sleep Protein

June 01, 2017

Featured By April Benshosan from EatThis.com

Once solely known as a weight loss and muscle growth aid, some protein powders can supposedly help you sleep more soundly. But is this company's product the real deal!? Read on to find out...

With the protein craze showing no sign of deceleration, Healthy Skoop, a company dedicated to producing plant-based nutrition, has recently released a new nighttime product they’ve dubbed Sleep Protein. The intriguing protein shake powder is gluten-, soy-, whey-, dairy-, and GMO-free. It also packs in 8 grams of organic plant protein from pea protein isolate and brown rice. Not only that, Sleep Protein is also blended with other nutrients that promote restful sleep, like calcium and magnesium.

According to the brand’s website, Sleep Protein’s objective is to promote “calmness and relaxation to encourage sustained quality sleep” and they target their product towards “anybody who occasionally has trouble falling or staying asleep”—so basically, every human being on planet Earth.

L-Tryptophan, one of the product’s heavily marketed amino acids, is scientifically proven to improve sleep latency by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Sleep Protein also contains tart cherry extract, a fruit rich in melatonin, a hormone that helps control sleep and wake cycles. A study in the European Journal of Nutrition reported that people who drank just one ounce of tart cherry juice a day noticed improved sleep quality and longevity. While that may sound promising, it’s hard to say if putting the extract into this particular shake will have similar results. Sleep Protein’s Co-Founder, Dr. James Rouse is optimistic, though.

“Sleep Protein is a first of its kind protein that balances the body’s metabolic cycles to encourage peaceful and deep sleep,” Rouse told us. “The amount of each ingredient including L-Tryptophan and tart cherry extract were carefully incorporated to maximize individuals’ sleep quality.”

Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean we should all add a month’s supply of packets to our shopping cart. There isn’t enough hard-science to prove Sleep Protein can actually help those that struggle to fall asleep. You can give the product a try if it’s piqued your interest, but be mindful that it’s possible to get many of the same nutrients from whole foods. Tryptophan, for example, is found in plant and animal proteins like turkey, chia seeds, and pepitas. Craving something sweet instead? Melatonin-rich cherries and tryptophan-filled Greek yogurt provide a double threat against insomnia. And make sure you know the truth behind these 17 Rumors About Sleep—Myth or Fact? while you're at it!