Everyone agrees sleep is vital to your overall health and well being. Getting at least 8 hours of consistent sleep every night repairs and optimizes your mind and body.
Unfortunately, eating or snacking just before bed can wreak havoc on your sleep. One way to guarantee the best night’s sleep is to stop eating several hours before bed. This can be challenging for many of us since our schedules often prevent us from eating at the perfect time.
If you do find yourself needing to eat closer to bedtime, be sure to avoid snacking on the following foods that have been linked to severe sleep disruption.
Caffeine
By now, most of us know that caffeine is a stimulant and will keep you awake, but you might not know that even decaffeinated drinks can contain small amounts of caffeine. Some people seem able to down a late-night espresso without losing a wink of sleep; most are not so lucky. If caffeine affects your sleep, try not to have any later than six hours before bedtime.
Chocolate
Chocolate is packed with sugar, caffeine, and theobromine, which are stimulants that increase heart rate, making it harder to fall asleep.
Dense, Acidic or Spicy Foods
Acidic or spicy foods can cause your body to create extra stomach acid. A full stomach leaves less room for digestive fluids and tends to push stomach acid upwards. Combine this with lying down to sleep, and you’re at a higher risk for heartburn, which is uncomfortable and keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Nuts
Anything containing high amounts of protein takes much longer for our bodies to break down; this extra effort digesting can result in a severe loss to the quality of your sleep.
Soda
Caffeine and sugar are notorious for destroying a perfect night’s sleep. The caffeine can make it hard to sleep, and sugar may affect your ability to stay asleep.
Fibrous Foods or Cruciferous Vegetables
Beans and broccoli might be an odd choice for a midnight snack, but in case you have a craving for them, you may want to choose something else. These foods can cause gas, bloating, and general stomach aches when you lie down to rest.
Alcohol
Although alcohol can make us feel drowsy, this side-effect can be very misleading, since it’s effects can also upset our breathing, instantly diminishing the quality of sleep. This undesirable side-effect can also lead to more severe disruptions in your circadian rhythm, contributing to next-day fatigue, irritability, and even difficulty concentrating.