It’s the sleep remedy that your grandparents and their parents likely used–a drink before bed to help calm you down and prepare you for sleep.
But science has caught up, and shows that unlike many remedies from that era, this one should be taken with a grain of salt
More and more evidence is emerging that the “nightcap” so many generations have enjoyed before sleep may be damaging.
According to a recent study:
[a]lthough the first half of sleep after alcohol intake looks good on the EEG, the result of the assessment regarding the autonomic nerve system shows that drinking leads to insomnia rather than good sleep.
So instead of helping you sleep throughout the night, alcohol can actually keep you awake and from getting the restful sleep you need.
