The Best Sleeping Supplements For Bodybuilding

When you're building muscle, sleep can seem like the enemy. During the night, the body fuels itself primarily by consuming lean muscle mass in a process called catabolism. All that hard work doesn't have to burn up, however, if you fuel the sleeping body with a high-protein snack before bed. High-protein supplements also have the added benefit of reducing the time it takes to get to sleep, making them the perfect healthy night cap.

Glass of Warm Milk

Warm milk is an old--wives' tale that happens to be effective. Milk contains casein, a kind of protein that digests slowly over the night, preventing catabolism.

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese doubles as a great before-bed snack because of its high casein content. Additionally, this food is a good source of an essential amino acid called tryptophan, which helps with falling asleep and maintaining healthy sleep rhythms.

Whey Protein Supplement

While natural and whole foods are best for good health, a whey protein supplement can also repair the body's muscles after a big workout while you sleep.

Lean Meats

All meat is high in protein, but many meats also have a high fat content. Stick with poultry and fish to get the protein without the danger. Tuna fish, chicken and turkey also have high levels of tryptophan.

Peanut Butter

The National Sleep Foundation recommends peanut butter on toast as a bedtime snack. Choose a bread that is all-grain, such a rye, which takes longer to break down and also contains some protein.