Abstract:The components in food that can improve sleep not only enhance sleep quality but also avoid the side effects of traditional drug treatments. This article explored the main food components that help improve sleep，including melatonin，tryptophan，5-hydroxytryptamine（5-HT），γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA），and extracts of herbal plants，as well as their mechanisms of action. The sleep-improving components in food promote sleep through various mechanisms such as regulating the circadian rhythm，inhibiting neural activity，and influencing serotonin levels，offering the advantages of being safer，having fewer side effects，and being suitable for long-term use. Additionally，natural sleep-promoting components like corn silk extract and turmeric extract have also been developed and studied，showing great potential for improving sleep. Based on the current research progress，this article further looks forward to the research prospects of future food technology in the development of sleep-promoting components.