It’s no secret that what you eat has a huge impact on your overall health. However, did you know that the foods you eat can also have a direct impact on your sleep? Certain foods can disrupt your sleep and make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. This article will give you a list of foods you should never eat before bedtime!
Contents
Tomatoes
The more acidic the food, the harder it is for your body to digest. Tomatoes are very acidic and can cause indigestion that will not only give you heartburn but make it hard to get a good night’s sleep as well. If you are experiencing acid reflux or heartburn at any time of day, including before bedtime, try giving up tomatoes to see if it helps with your symptoms. You can also try eating more alkaline foods like bananas, apples and spinach at different times of the day and in different combinations and amounts than usual.
Ice Cream
The combination of milk and sugar found in ice cream before bedtime can be a recipe for disaster. Your body needs to expend energy to break down the sugars from the ice cream before they can be digested, which can make it harder to fall asleep. Plus, you need all of your bodily resources available to digest the milk protein casein! You also want to avoid dairy products at least two hours before bedtime as they contain hormones that produce stress and contribute even more acidity into your digestive tract.
Chocolate
Chocolate is another food that should be avoided at least two hours before bedtime. Like milk, your body needs to expend energy and resources to break down the proteins and fats in chocolate for it to be digested. Snack on a piece of fruit instead like an apple or strawberries! These foods contain the same amount of sugar as dark chocolate but without all of the extra ingredients that can make it harder for you to fall asleep.
Fried Foods
If you want to crush your cravings for fried chicken or french fries before bedtime, try eating grilled chicken instead. Fried foods contain a lot of fat that takes even longer than other fats to digest. This can make it harder for your body to recover after the day and get ready for bedtime. Some research has also suggested that eating fried foods can increase the risk of certain cancers by producing carcinogens during the frying process.
Pizza
While this may be hard to give up, you want to avoid eating food like pizza, lasagna and chicken parmesan before bedtime. These foods contain a combination of carbohydrates (the crust of the pizza) and proteins (in the sauce and cheese of the lasagna), which take more resources for your body to break down than other types of foods. So save these goodies for earlier in the day! A better option is grilled chicken on a whole wheat pita with veggies on top instead. This meal provides complex carbs that will help put you into a deep sleep at night without disrupting any part of your digestive system.
Red Meat
All meats contain proteins that your body needs energy to break down, which increases acidity in your digestive system. If you want to have a meaty meal before bedtime, try eating fish instead! Lean fish like tilapia and halibut are low in fat but high in protein, making them the perfect option if you are craving meat. Another good source of lean protein is chicken breast or turkey breast without any skin. Plus these options don’t come with the extra saturated fats found in red meat!
Spicy Food
While it might be nice to have some hot salsa or curry before bedtime, these foods are spicy for a reason. Spicy foods cause your body to release hormones that will disrupt sleep by causing you to sweat more. While also decreasing the temperature of your body and making it harder for your brain to recover from all of that work. So if you want to enhance your snooze time, try eating something without any spices!
Tofu
If you find yourself craving tofu for dinner or even as a snack before bedtime, you may want to reconsider this decision. Tofu is made from soybeans which means that your body needs to expend energy and resources to break it down. This means that you will get less of the benefits from the protein found in tofu if you eat it before bedtime. Try eating grilled chicken or fish instead of tofu, and see how much better you feel when you wake up!
Cinnamon Buns
Cinnamon buns are another food that should be avoided at least two hours before bedtime. Like the other foods on this list, cinnamon contains spices that increase acidity in your digestive system and can make it harder for you to recover after a long day. If you want to have something sweet before bedtime, why not try some strawberries? They contain less sugar than any of the desserts mentioned above but still provide all of the nutrients you need to fall asleep!
Tacos
Canned Foods like beans contain BPA which can cause hormone disruptions. These hormones, like estrogen, can make it harder for you to fall asleep at night because they will keep your body more alert than other foods. So next time you are thinking of having tacos or canned soup before bedtime, choose the fresh option instead! That way your body will be able to relax and heal without any stressors disrupting its natural functions.
Conclusion
While it is good to have a little something before bedtime, make sure that you don’t eat too much or the wrong things. Eating certain foods can disrupt your sleep by increasing acidity in your digestive system, which makes it harder for you body to recover from a long day and get ready for sleep. So if you want to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, try eating a lean protein like fish or chicken with some complex carbs like whole wheat bread!
