If you are eating these foods before bed, you are about to have a bad time!

What you are eating matters a lot when it comes to your health, but what most people don’t know is that the foods you are eating before bed can greatly affect the way you sleep. There are some foods out there that guarantee sleepless nights, and it’s better to be aware of them if you don’t want to wake up tired in the morning.

Many people assume that a light snack before bed is harmless, but certain foods can lead to restlessness, heartburn, or even nightmares! So, what should you avoid? Before you grab a late-night snack, you better read this and discover all the potential dangers.

These are the worst foods you can eat before bed. If you want to wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested, it’s essential to skip them at night. Ready to discover more about this?

Pastries

These are some of the most beloved snacks, and we get it when you say that you can’t say no to a fresh croissant. You can indulge during the day, but eating pastries before bed is a terrible move. This is the recipe for poor sleep! If this is your late-night snack choice, you will feel more restless after eating it, and you might have difficulties falling asleep.

The reason behind this is simple. Pastries like cakes and cookies cause blood sugar levels to spike pretty quickly, which means more energy for you and, in the end, less sleep when you need it the most. Later your body will act accordingly, and you will get a sugar crash later, and this has the potential to disrupt your sleep and leave you sluggish in the morning.

To avoid blood sugar crashes and sleepless nights, it’s best to skip the pastries before bed. Instead, you can grab a protein-rich snack or a small serving of nuts. This will satisfy your hunger without sacrificing your precious sleep.

Steak

A thick, juicy steak sounds like the perfect dinner, and considering that we already told you to choose a protein-rich snack, you might believe that you’ve just hit the jackpot with this idea. Well, evidence shows that steak is not the best thing you can eat right before bed, and we will tell you more about it.

If you are eating this meal too close to bedtime, you are basically maximizing the odds of getting a restless night. Steak is particularly heavy and difficult to digest, and this is the main reason you should avoid it. Because of all the fat and protein it has, your body needs to work overtime in order to digest it.

This can lead to decreased sleep time, restlessness, and even heartburn, and this is especially true for those of you who suffer from acid reflux. Now, you can have steak for dinner, obviously, but not too close to the time you go to bed.

Also, you can choose leaner and lighter options such as grilled chicken or fish.

Carbonated beverages

Drinking a soda while you are having dinner doesn’t seem like a bad idea, but carbonated beverages are the enemies of good sleep. Consuming them before bed is harmful in multiple ways, and it doesn’t matter if you are having regular soda, diet soda, or even sparkling water since the bubbles are the ones to blame.

So, cut back on carbonated sodas, particularly in the evening, because the bubbles and the added ingredients can make you restless and bloated. Also, many sodas contain caffeine. This makes you more alert, and it blocks adenosine, a chemical that is well-known to promote sleepiness.

There is also another problem that comes with drinking sodas before bed. Increased nighttime trips to the bathroom. There is a lot of extra liquid that you ingest, and your body needs to get rid of it. If you drink soda late in the evening, this release will probably become a huge problem during the night.

Then let’s not forget about the high sugar content that is found in soda that can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes. Your circadian rhythm will be disrupted, and you will get many nights when you will not be able to sleep.

Cheese

Cheese, with its creamy texture and rich flavor, is by far one of the best foods you can find on this planet, but eating it before bed is not the best idea. Why? This delicious snack can leave you tossing and turning all night long.

Full-fat cheese, or any full-fat dairy, takes a lot of effort from your body to digest, and this may affect how long it takes you to fall asleep and also the quality of your sleep. Waking up during the night is a common occurrence after such a snack.

But why is this happening? Well, digestion slows down while you sleep, and foods that are so high in fat will take even more time to digest, and in the end, it will be harder for you to relax.

The longer digestion time may also lead to acid reflux or indigestion, which can result in stomach pain, nausea, or bloating.

Alcohol

Drinking a glass of wine before bed seems like the best way to unwind and relax, but is it really? Indeed, alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, but this is not the best move if you also want to stay asleep during the night.

This substance is known to negatively affect sleep cycles, and this means the chances of you waking up groggy in the morning are as high as possible. The problem is that after drinking alcohol, your REM sleep is affected, and this is probably the most important part of your sleep.

During REM sleep your brain works to make your memory better and also is essential for your cognitive function and overall well-being. If your sleep is disrupted and you skip this phase, it can lead to fatigue, poor concentration, and mood swings the next day.

If you still want to have a drink before bed, skip alcohol and try a better alternative. Herbal teas like chamomile or valerian root are perfect because they promote good sleep. Warm milk with a dash of cinnamon is another option that is soothing but will not mess with your sleep schedule.

Tomatoes

Ok, we know that tomatoes are used in countless dishes and they are a staple in the kitchen, but it is best to avoid them before bed if you want to sleep well. The problem with them is that they are really high in acid, and if you eat them before you go to sleep, you might have to deal with heartburn.

Also, all of this acidity might trigger acid reflux. This is a condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing burning discomfort and disrupted sleep. If you have ever woken up with a sour taste in your mouth or a burning sensation in your chest, tomatoes can be the ones to blame.

A better snack option would be bananas. They are rich in magnesium and potassium, which help relax muscles and ultimately help you sleep better.

If you are looking for an amazing tea, this one is a good choice: Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile Mint Herbal Tea

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