Many people enjoy a late-night snack to tide them over, and while some foods can promote sleep, others can keep you tossing and turning all night. A recent U.S. study reminds us that it's best to avoid the following foods before bed.
1. Ice cream. Ice cream is high in fat. Eating it right before bed gives your body no time to burn it off. All that sugar sends your body the wrong signal about energy, causing it to store it as fat. Additionally, studies have found that eating high-sugar foods before bed can lead to nightmares.
2. Celery. Celery is a natural diuretic, which means it increases urination. If you eat too much celery before bed, your body may wake you up to use the restroom. Although celery is nutritious, it's best to avoid it before bedtime.
3. Pasta. Pasta is full of carbohydrates. Eating it right before sleep can easily be converted into fat, alter your blood sugar levels, and delay sleep or cause you to wake up during the night. Furthermore, the cheese, cream, or tomato sauce often added to pasta can burden your digestive system.
4. Pizza. The high acidity of tomato sauce in pizza can trigger acid reflux. The fatty meats and cheese can also cause heartburn.
5. Candy. A recent study shows that 7 out of 10 people eat junk food like candy before bed, leading to nightmares all night. Experts speculate that high sugar levels cause more brainwave activity, which results in nightmares.
6. Cereal. Cereal often contains large amounts of refined sugar and carbohydrates, which can cause a spike in blood sugar, making it unsuitable for consumption before bed.
7. Garlic. Eating garlic at night not only can cause bad breath but also can lead to heartburn. If you have a sensitive stomach or are prone to acid reflux, avoid spicy foods like garlic before bedtime.
8. Chocolate. The caffeine in dark chocolate can be stimulating. Almost all chocolate contains some level of caffeine. In addition, theobromine in chocolate can increase your heart rate.
9. Alcohol. It's a common misconception that alcohol promotes sleep. While it can help you fall asleep, it doesn't support long, restful sleep. Alcohol actually interferes with the restorative function of sleep, and people who regularly use it as a sleep aid can get stuck in a vicious cycle of needing alcohol to fall asleep.
10. Red meat. Although the high levels of iron and tryptophan in red meat can aid sleep, it is rich in protein and fat, which takes longer to digest than other foods. This can keep your body working all night. Therefore, for a deep sleep, it's best to avoid red meat for dinner.