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!
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.
