In addition to giving us nourishment, food can either pick us up or slow us down. Certain foods contain an amino acid called tryptophan that helps with sleeping. Carbohydrates make tryptophan more available to the brain, which is why carbohydrate-heavy meals can make one drowsy. Proteins from the food we eat are the building blocks of tryptophan. What are the worst foods to eat before bed?
No matter how tired one may think they are, ultimately it comes down to the body to decide how much shut eye you’re going to get.
Foods may enter the body under the guise of good taste but show their true colours when one tries to go to sleep.
Research has even suggested that a bad night’s sleep can lead a person to crave more unhealthy snacks and food the next day.
This in turn creates a never ending cycle of not sleeping enough and eating unhealthily.
When it comes to seeking a good night’s rest, it’s suggested that a person may want to avoid these four foods.
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Chocolate
Bad news for chocolate lovers, the delicious treat is packed with sugar which can seriously impact how well you sleep.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that participants who ate more sugar experienced less deep sleep and woke up more through the night.
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Pizza
Pizza before bedtime should be avoided due to its ingredients. Cheese is rich in fat and tomato sauce is very acidic, this combination is the perfect breeding ground for heartburn that could prevent one from getting a good night’s rest.
To avoid heartburn whilst sleeping, GPs recommend having your biggest meal either for breakfast or lunch or at least quitting eating three hours before bedtime.
Ice cream
As delicious as it may be, ice cream is not the best food option to have before sleep.
Dairy can have a ton of fat and even low-fat ice creams can be high in sugar.
This all means that a person will probably not be getting a whole lot of sleep.
Getting enough good sleep a night is incredibly important for one’s overall health.
A good night’s rest can reduce the risk of developing certain chronic illnesses, keep the brain and digestion healthy and boost the immune system.
Creating a calm bedroom space, avoiding food for three hours before sleep time and avoiding phones or TV an hour before could all help to ensure a good night’s sleep.