Cherries are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Specifically, tart cherries have been found to have the highest anti-inflammatory content on the planet. (1) Inflammation affects your sleep, as one study showed that increased inflammation from your diet reduced sleep quality. (2) As a result between the two studies, cherries have the potential to help this relationship and improve sleep quality. In a study on sleep and tart cherry juice, consumption of tart cherry juice was associated with increased sleep time and efficiency. (3)
Another theory is that the natural melatonin content found in cherries is the reason behind their beneficial effects on sleep. A study on jet lag showed that consuming cherries one hour before flight helped with sleep on the plane and improved symptoms of jet lag. (4)