

Spicy meals and acidic foods can cause severe heartburn, which can create major issues for individuals suffering from Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While spicy food is often delicious, it’s almost a guarantee you won’t sleep comfortably if you indulge in a spicy meal before bed. The FixĬut salt two to three hours before bed. Additionally, the European Society of Endocrinology found individuals who eat foods like salty nuts before bed can contribute to “superficial” sleep and cause several sleep disturbances throughout the night. Both will cause you to feel tired, but feeling dehydrated may cause you to wake up with headaches that interrupt your sleep. An excess of salt will increase your water retention and dehydrate your body. Skipping ZZZs but can’t figure out why? Your evening meal may contain too much salt. This can prevent the need to binge and fill yourself because you didn’t eat well throughout the day. Work to eat balanced meals throughout the day so you’re not starving by the time dinner rolls around. Skip foods like fried seafood or meats cheeseburgers and fries, ice cream, and other decadent desserts a few hours before bedtime. One study of 440 medical students uncovered that higher fat intake meant more sleep disruptions, less total sleep time, and even less restorative sleep. This can potentially cause issues that will keep you awake like acid reflux and can make it uncomfortable to sleep. As a result, food can stay in the stomach longer. As your body gets ready for bed, digestion slows. There’s a reason it’s advised individuals eat a lighter evening meal. Need a jumpstart? You can try a drink with lower caffeine content like green tea or even a quick exercise routine to get your energy levels back up. Stop your caffeine several hours before bedtime to ensure you get an uninterrupted night of sleep. Caffeine ingestion is known to reduce sleep time and can potentially cause fatigue, memory retention issues, and struggles with emotion regulation. So that afternoon coffee cake or evening espresso is still keeping your body humming when your mind is ready to shut down for the evening.

Caffeine is known to cause a spike in the body 30 to 60 minutes after consumption and stimulates the body up to six hours later. Whether you love your afternoon soda or enjoy caffeine-infused energy bars, this favorite stimulant can quite easily wreck a good sleep schedule. You may find you want to give it up altogether when you start feeling more rested! 2.

Journal for a week or two and note how many hours you slept and your energy levels upon waking. Try giving up your evening drink during the workweek and see how it makes a difference in your sleep cycles. The problem, though, is that alcohol can create shorter sleep cycles and imbalance your overall sleep experience. Alcohol is a central nervous system stimulant that does indeed slow down your body to cause feelings of relaxation and sleepiness. If you’ve noticed your nightcap is contributing to crummy sleep, it may be time to give it up. It’s also commonly consumed with other foods that may interrupt your sleep. While not technically a food, many people use alcohol as a means to get to sleep quickly. Here are some foods (and drinks) to avoid if you want to get a good night’s sleep: 1. If that means skipping your nightly dessert, then it’s well worth it if it means your sleep will be more satisfying. Improving your sleep hygiene is one simple way to vastly better your overall health. While certain health conditions and environmental conditions can also keep you up at night, certain foods are known to cause restless sleep cycles as well. If you’ve ever had a heavy meal before bed and woke up the next morning feeling unrested, you know that food definitely impacts your sleep. Read on and see if any of these foods may be causing your sleepless nights! The Foods That Keep You Awake at Night This post will look at foods that can cause restless nights like alcohol, salt, spicy foods, and more.

Sleep plays a big role in overall good health and strong immunity, which is a must-have during cold and flu season. Taking a mindful approach to keeping your sleeping patterns on track can make it easier to fall asleep when the time change comes. With Daylight Saving Time coming up on November 7, sleep schedules are about to get even more out of whack. If you’re finding it increasingly harder to sleep, but you can’t pinpoint why, your diet may be one place to start. You may be enjoying dinners or evening snacks of foods that keep you awake. Are you struggling to stay asleep but can’t figure out why?
