Insomnia is one of the most common complaints in our age. In addition to stress, lifestyle, over-watching, there are other factors that trigger insomnia. Have you thought about the role your diet plays in your sleep cycle? Most of us don’t drink coffee before bed because it has caffeine. But it’s not just coffee we need to pay attention to.
FOODS TO AVOID BEFORE SLEEPING
CHOCOLATE
Chocolate has super high levels of caffeine, making it a bad choice for later in the evening and into the night. Caffeine is more likely to cause rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, making you feel dizzy in the morning.
APPLE
Apples do not contain caffeine, but cause a caffeine-like response. It contains about 13 g of natural sugar, which slowly releases the vitamins in apples in the body. It’s good during the day, but makes you feel more alert at night. At the very least, unlike caffeine, there are no jolts, tremors, or dreadful coffee crashes.
TOMATOES
Acidic foods such as tomatoes should be avoided just before bedtime as they can cause reflux problems at bedtime. The same can be said for onions, which cause pressure in the stomach and cause acid to enter your esophagus.
DRY FRUIT
The fiber in fruit is great in moderation. However, when consumed at night, it can cause you to feel bloated and gassy. Like fresh fruit, dried fruits contain high levels of sugar, which can give you an energetic high.
CHIPS
Salty snacks such as nuts and chips are known to dehydrate the body and increase water retention. As a result, sleep is more likely to be ‘superficial’ and interrupted.