My dreams are more frequent and vivid, my stress level has dropped dramatically, and I feel much more relaxed than ever.
I have been sleeping "like a baby," without the 3am to 4am awakenings that were common prior to some recent changes in my diet.
My sleep is much deeper and my energy level in the morning has increased.
The changes are a direct result of the reading and research I have done in preparation for my last several articles.
My "diet for dreams" has not been tested in any scientific studies.
It has not been approved by doctors or the FDA.
If you choose to accept this mission and to try my "diet for dreams" the risk is yours and I cannot be held responsible for any side effects.
My results have been excellent and I am continuing to reap its rewards.
My "diet for dreams" is high in carbohydrates and moderate in proteins.
It will range between 2000 and 2500 calories per day depending on how religious you are.
There are no medications designed to enhance sleep and endanger alertness and performance during the day.
I am taking only two supplements.
The first supplement is "Alive.
" It is a multi-vitamin packed with minerals.
Recommended dosage is 3 tablets daily, but I only take one in the morning along with my juice.
The only other supplement is 5-hydroxytryptophan(5-HTP).
It is a 100mg tablet, and I take one per day an hour before bed, along with my bedtime snack.
5-HTP is an amino acid intermediary between tryptophan and serotonin.
More details can be found on Wikipedia and the University of Maryland Medical Center website.
A consultation with your doctor is recommended before taking 5-HTP if you are taking antidepressants, treatments for Parkinson's disease, pain relievers for fibromyalgia, or triptans for migraine relief.
You will find the "diet for dreams" satisfying and nutritious, yet low in calories.
Breakfast

• 8oz glass of juice.
  Blueberry, cranberry, or orange.
  120 calories.
  30g carb.
  
• 6oz yogurt.
  Your favorite flavor.
  170 calories.
  33g carb.
  5g protein.
  
• 1 serving oatmeal.
  Scottish (my favorite).
  140 calories.
  23g carb.
  6g protein.
  
• 1 cup coffee.
  Your favorite, black.
  2 calories.
  Skim milk: 80 calories.
  12g carb.
  2g
• protein.
  

Approximate totals: 432 calories, 86g carb.
11g protein.
Lunch

• 8oz glass Arizona Pomegranate Green Tea.
  70 calories.
  19g carb.
  
• 2 slices rye bread (dill rye my favorite).
  140 calories.
  28g carb.
  4g protein.
  
• 1 slice cheese (1in.
  sq.
  equivalent).
  110 calories.
  1g carb.
  7g protein.
  
• 1 serving ham.
  60 calories.
  1g carb.
  9g protein.
  

Approximate totals: 380 calories.
49g carb.
20g protein.
Dinner

• 8oz glass apple juice.
  112 calories.
  28g carb.
  Og protein.
  
• Choose one of the following main courses:

1. Pasta with parmesan cheese.
   280 calories.
   37g carb.
   8g protein.
   
2. Seafood with pasta.
   410 calories.
   55g carb.
   27g protein.
   
3. Meat or poultry and potato.
   

Potato, baked: 278 calories.
63g carb.
7g protein.
Beef, lean: 371 calories.
0g carb.
55g protein.
Poultry, breast: 231 calories.
0g carb.
43g protein.

• Vegetable, green options.
  

Broccoli: 98 calories.
20g carb.
7g protein.
Green Beans: 44 calories.
10g carb.
2g protein.
Approximate totals:

1. Pasta option: 490 calories.
   85g carb.
   15g protein.
   
2. Seafood/creamy pasta: 620 calories.
   103g carb.
   34g protein.
   
3. Poultry option: 719 calories.
   48g carb.
   50g protein.
   

Using the highest total calories beef option for dinner, the subtotal for the day is: 1671 calories, 246g carb, and 93g protein.
Not bad! A person consuming 2000 calories per day should have 250g of carbohydrates and 40-70g of protein per day, depending on gender age and activity.
Looks like the bedtime snack should put us right into the recommended ranges.
Dinner should be eaten no later than 7pm for a 9pm-10pm bedtime.
Taking a nice evening walk with your spouse will burn some of the calories consumed throughout the day and will also make room for your bedtime snack.
A major meta-study, cited by Harvard Health Publications, of over 459,000 participants, tracked over 11 years proved that walking just 5 ½ miles per week at a relatively brisk pace cut cardiovascular events (angina, heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, and stroke) by 31%, and reduced the risk of dying during the study by 32%.
About an hour before retiring, take your 100mg tablet of 5-hydroxytryptophan along with a glass of milk.
Save some of that milk to go with the best bedtime snack of all: apple pie and ice cream (my favorite dessert).
This bedtime snack will add the following to your totals for the day:

• 8oz glass of 2% milk: 122 calories, 11.
  4g carb, and 8.
  1g of protein
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream: 145 calories, 17g carb, and 2.
  5g of protein
• 1 slice of apple pie: 230 calories, 40g carb, and 2.
  0g of protein

The grand total, taking the highest calorie count for the beef main course, adding the wonderful bedtime snack of apple pie and ice cream, comes to 2168 calories, 314.
4g carbohydrate, and 105.
6g of protein.
Wow, that was a good day of eating, calorie counting, and nutrition.
The yawning will begin soon after the bedtime snack.
Add some friendly conversation, and by 9 or 10pm, your body will be craving nothing more than the rest, quiet, and comfort of your waiting mattress.
Sweet dreams, rest well, and have a happier tomorrow!