Whether you can sleep well at night is very much dependent on what you ate for dinner. The "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" once said, "When the stomach is not in harmony, sleep is not peaceful"; clinical nutritionists also point out that one of the causes of sleep disorders is eating certain "inadvisable" foods for dinner. So, what foods exactly can keep you awake at night?
One, Caffeine
Many people know that foods containing caffeine can stimulate the nervous system and have a diuretic effect, making them a common cause of insomnia.
Two, Spicy Foods
Eating spicy foods for dinner is also one of the important reasons that affect sleep. Chili peppers, garlic, onions, etc., can cause a burning sensation in the stomach, which in turn affects sleep.
Three, Greasy Foods
After eating greasy foods, the work burden on the intestines, stomach, liver, and gallbladder is increased, and the central nervous system is stimulated, keeping it in a working state, which can also lead to insomnia.
Four, Foods that Cause Bloating
Some foods produce a lot of gas during digestion, leading to a feeling of bloating and hindering normal sleep, such as beans, Chinese cabbage, onions, corn, etc.
Five, Alcohol
Drinking a small amount of alcohol before bed can promote sleep. However, excessive drinking, while it may make you fall asleep quickly, keeps your sleep in the light sleep stage, making it difficult to enter the deep sleep stage. Therefore, even if you sleep for a long time, you will still feel tired upon waking.
In addition to the foods that should be avoided before bed mentioned above, you should also pay attention to:
1, Avoid using your brain before bed
If you have the habit of working or studying at night, do more mentally demanding tasks first, and then do easier ones. Otherwise, your brain will be in an excited state, making it difficult to fall asleep. Over time, this can easily lead to insomnia.
2, Avoid getting agitated before bed
Human joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness can easily excite or disrupt the central nervous system. Therefore, major joy, anger, or worry before bed can make it difficult to fall asleep, and may even cause insomnia. At this time, you can lie on your back, place your hands below your navel, lick your lower jaw with your tongue, relax your whole body, and when you feel saliva in your mouth, continuously swallow it. After a few minutes, you will fall asleep.
3, Avoid sleeping with the light on
When a person is asleep, their eyes can still perceive light. If you sleep with the light on, the light will disrupt the body's natural balance, causing body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure to become uncoordinated, which can make you feel uneasy and easily awakened.