I have never thought much about food and sleep. I know if I drink a caffeinated drink after noon, I will often find myself staring at the ceiling at midnight going, “Why did I do that?”
But, did you know that food too can affect your sleep? At a time in my life when sleep seems more elusive and yet more important all at the same time, I decided to research what food can keep you awake.
Other than the obvious coffee, you should also avoid chocolate. I know, that is a terrible thing to say, but chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can keep you awake due to the amount of caffeine in it. It will vary by brand, but if you must have chocolate before bedtime, keep it to a few bites.
Alcohol is a slippery slope for sleep. While a little wine may help you fall asleep quicker, you have find later stages of sleep disrupted. You may even find yourself having odd dreams.
If you need yet another reason to stay away from fatty foods, here’s one – fatty foods have been shown to cause rats to sleep more during the day and make falling asleep difficult.
Steak is another sleep-depriving culprit. Although in my mind, eating a nice, juicy steak then going to sleep sounds good, doctors say steak is hard to break down, which could cause digestive problems that keep you awake.
Oh, one thing I love is spicy foods, but again, if you eat spicy foods before bedtime, you are asking for trouble. If you eat a spicy dish, then lie down, you increase your chance of suffering from heartburn, which will surely wake you up if you manage to go to sleep at all.
Another thing to avoid is citrusy fruits. Like the spicy food, citrus can cause stomach problems by increasing your stomach’s acidity.
Finally, another thing I have to keep in check is too much water before bedtime. This can obviously awaken you for a bathroom call, so make doctors say it is best to cut your water intake off as much as two hours before you go to bed.