Getting a good night's sleep is essential for your overall health and wellbeing. But what you eat before bed can have a big impact on your sleep quality. While cheese may be a comfort food, it's actually one of the worst foods to eat before bed. Alcohol may seem to help you fall asleep, but it can disrupt your rest and make waking up the next morning more difficult.
Eating foods that are high in water content, such as celery, watermelon and cucumbers, should also be avoided. Spicy foods can alter your digestion and have high levels of capsaicin, which can interfere with some people's sleep. To decrease stomach acid production, it's best to avoid acidic foods such as sugar, grains, dairy and meat products and baked goods.
Avoid These Foods Before Bedtime for a Good Night's Sleep
Getting a good night's rest is essential for your overall health and wellbeing.To ensure you get the best sleep possible, it's important to avoid certain foods before bedtime. Here are 10 foods to avoid before bedtime for a good night's sleep.
French fries
are greasy and full of fat, and studies have shown that eating them before bed can lead to nightmares and make it more difficult to fall asleep due to digestive problems. Alcohol relaxes every muscle in the body, which can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea and loud snoring. It also tends to cause acid reflux, which isn't fun when you're trying to sleep.Grapes
contain some melatonin but are full of natural sugars, so if you're eating them close to bedtime, eat a smaller portion and combine them with a bowl of whole Greek yogurt and nuts. Eating a large bowl of fruit before bed can cause a rise in blood sugar, leading to insomnia.Acidic foods
such as tomatoes and citrus fruits can irritate the stomach lining and cause indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux, all of which can interfere with sleep.Chocolate bars
contain theobromine which affects the body in a similar way to caffeine, so opt for chocolate as a dessert after lunch or in the middle of the afternoon with a spoonful of almond butter.Spicy
and acidic foods can also kill sleep efforts because they cause heartburn.Conclusion
Getting a good night's sleep is essential for your overall health and wellbeing. Cheese is one of the worst foods to eat before bed, as is alcohol.Foods that are high in water content should also be avoided, as well as spicy foods. To decrease stomach acid production, stay away from acidic foods such as sugar, grains, dairy and meat products and baked goods. French fries are greasy and full of fat and can lead to nightmares and digestive problems. Grapes contain some melatonin but are full of natural sugars so should be eaten in moderation.
Eating a large bowl of fruit before bed can cause a rise in blood sugar leading to insomnia. Chocolate bars contain theobromine which affects the body in a similar way to caffeine so should be avoided close to bedtime. Spicy and acidic foods can also kill sleep efforts because they cause heartburn.