Sleep-promoting foods run the gamut, and experts have their own top-tier lists—but they all agree, on some level, that colorful, magnesium-rich plants are a fabulous choice. See, magnesium is a mineral that’s important for lots of functions in the body, including sleep1, and many people skimp on it2 (i.e., almost half the nation).* “Nuts, seeds, whole grains, leafy greens, legumes—these are magnesium-dense foods that should go into your [grocery] cart,” our director of scientific affairs and in-house nutritionist Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, told us on the mindbodygreen podcast.Â