Everyone knows that eating before bed is not good for your health and sleep quality, yet they are "more lenient" when it comes to drinks. In fact, drinking six types of beverages can also affect sleep quality.
Six Drinks Not to Drink Before Bed
1. Alcoholic Beverages
A small amount of alcohol can promote blood circulation and make people relax, and soon they will fall into a deep sleep due to the effects of acetaldehyde produced during alcohol metabolism. However, it has the opposite effect in the latter half of sleep, causing people to enter the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage, sleep gradually becomes lighter, and even wake up. While drinking for pleasure is one of life's great joys, it's still best to avoid drinking alcohol before bed.
2. Diuretic Herbal Teas
Chrysanthemum family herbs such as dandelion (or dandelion coffee), chamomile, and diuretic herbs such as juniper and coix seed all have a diuretic effect. To avoid waking up because you need to use the bathroom, it's best not to drink them before bed.
Dandelion Tea
3. Carbonated Drinks
Most carbonated drinks are sweet beverages containing sugar. Because liquid sugar is easily absorbed, the body's blood sugar level rises quickly. When blood sugar is high, the body cannot enter a deep sleep state. Moreover, some carbonated drinks also contain caffeine, so it's best to be cautious.
4. Coffee
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. Drinking coffee before bed may keep you awake. However, because everyone's tolerance to caffeine is different, how much coffee affects sleep varies from person to person.
5. Health Beverages
Many people drink a health beverage before bed to have good skin condition the next day. Although this does not negatively affect nutrient absorption, the caffeine in health beverages can greatly impact sleep. Caffeine not only excites the nervous system, making it difficult to fall asleep, but also has a diuretic effect. Even if a health beverage has beauty benefits, once you are in a light sleep state, any benefits are in vain.
6. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is not only high in calories but also contains a large amount of caffeine. A 44-gram piece of dark chocolate contains about 12 mg of caffeine, which is almost the same amount as in 10 grams of regular coffee. It's important to know that the theobromine in chocolate can also cause insomnia.