[paul.fr]

Those of us with older parents, will have been given milk and cookies at bedtime. This is supposed to make us sleep.

Is there any truth to this?

[DoctorBeaver]

Warm milk is supposed to make you drowsy and in my experience it can certainly help relax you ready for sleep. Someone did explain it to me once but I can't remember the reason.

[Karen W.]

The only way I can drink warm milk is if it is hot chocolate

[another_someone]

I have an older parent, but never recall having been given warm milk - but then, I detest warm milk; even in chocolate - I drink my cocoa (note - real cocoa, not chocolate) without milk.

[dentstudent]

Doesn't the action of having something like this in the stomach cause blood to go to the digestion system, thus reducing its presence in the brain, therefore inducing drowsiness. This is the same process as after a big lunch, when at about 2pm, you really want to drop off!

[Karen W.]

I love hot chocolate and I mean cocoa.. but I do use milk. I hate warm milk with a passion it is horrid! LOL..I'm with you George someone once told me I would get used to it... no way! LOL..


Stuart what do mean by causing the blood to go to the digestive system?
I just looked at time on mess 11-11-11

[Karen W.]

my edit time and this outside posted time is off 5 seconds more now as I write this!

[dentstudent]

When you eat, blood tends to go to the stomach and intestine areas to help move around all those lovely new nutrients and energy that the food is providing. As there is only a finite amount of blood, the other areas of the body see a reduction in blood pressure. The manifestation of this in the brain is drowsiness - a bit like standing up too quickly, which reduces the oxygen in the brain causing you to become dizzy, and to potentially faint.

[Karen W.]

Check this link for the warm milk part of the question!

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=2632.0

[DoctorBeaver]

my edit time and this outside posted time is off 5 seconds more now as I write this!

Relativity!  []