It’s no secret that you need to sleep at night. But what if you have seemingly unreasonable insomnia? Perhaps it’s all about your diet. And if we all know coffee is not the best sleep companion, some options are not so obvious. But most common foods and substances that cause insomnia are:
- Alcohol: Excessive alcohol can disrupt sleep, causing anxiety the whole night. With such a disturbed mind a person usually fights with his loved ones. And later, it becomes difficult for rebuilding relationships after addiction. Boycott it before it makes you boycott everyone else.
- Caffeine: By increasing the level of stress and anxiety, it causes sleeping disorders. It is best to avoid drinking coffee especially before going to bed
- Tomatoes: It belongs to the nightshade food family. These foods normally cause sleeping problems.
Foods That Interfere with Sleep
These healthy foods interfere with your sleep at night.
1. Hard Cheese
Aged or fermented cheeses are rich in tyramine, an amino acid that keeps your body awake. Therefore, if you cannot deny yourself the pleasure of eating a piece of cheese, do it 4-6 hours before going to bed.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep
Curd contains casein, which inhibits fasting cravings, and tryptophan makes you sleepy.
2. Bitter Chocolate
Fans of this dish do not even suspect that by eating dark chocolate later than 16.00, they thereby deprive themselves of the opportunity to get into the arms of Morpheus in time.
The fact is that the product is rich in polyphenols, and it is also an amazing source of caffeine – both of which have an invigorating effect on the body. Besides, dark chocolate contains theobromine. It not only causes an increase in heart rate but also provokes insomnia.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep:
Drink a glass of tart cherry juice and eat a small handful of walnuts. Both contain melatonin, which helps regulate sleep. Try other healthy types of nuts as well. But do not overdo it – remember that they are high in calories.
3. Fresh Vegetables
High-fiber raw vegetables such as celery, cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots are considered healthy snacks but beware, they also take a long time to digest and can cause sleep problems. And tomatoes, like aged cheese, are rich in tyramine. It causes your brain to release a chemical called norepinephrine. This, in turn, increases brain activity and prevents us from sleeping.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep:
Bananas contain sleep-inducing tryptophan, melatonin, and magnesium, as well as potassium as a bonus to help prevent cramps in the middle of the night.
4. Citrus Fruits and Juices
While the high acidity of citrus fruits can cause heartburn and upset stomach, this is not the only reason to avoid them late at night. The scent of lemon and other citrus fruits can increase mental alertness, making it difficult to fall asleep.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep:
Eat kiwi. This fruit contains a decent amount of folate and potassium.
5. Beans
Beans are a common cause of heartburn and digestive problems. Plus, it can cause gas and bloat. Imagining that you are faced with one of these phenomena does not contribute to a sound night’s sleep.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep:
Chickpeas are milder on the stomach and contain high levels of vitamin B6, which can help you fall asleep faster. You can also try edamame – these soybeans are rich in magnesium. And this mineral improves the quality of sleep in patients with insomnia.
6. Red Meat
Beef is a great source of protein and fat. But they take a long time to digest. For this reason, any dense meat meals should be avoided at least four hours before going to bed.
Also, red meat contains tyrosine, which stimulates the production of the stress hormone (cortisol). And the high iron content of beef will give you a burst of energy that you don’t need at all before bed.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep:
Eat turkey sandwich and whole-wheat toast. The complex carbohydrates combined with tryptophan in this poultry meat stimulate the production of serotonin, which will help you fall asleep faster. Another option is fish as the main protein.
Salmon, cod, tuna, and halibut are excellent sources of vitamin B6, which increases the production of sleep hormones. But, even though these protein foods are allowed before bed, everything should be in moderation.
7. Green Tea
Enjoy these nutritious drinks throughout the day, but remember to cut back at least a few hours before bed. Green tea, in addition to caffeine, contains two more stimulants – theobromine and theophylline. They can cause heart palpitations, feelings of nervousness, and general anxiety.
The Best Choice For Sound Sleep:
Try herbal tea for a soothing drink before bed. And give preference to one of two herbs – passionflower or chamomile. But prepare your tea the right way.
8. Dried Fruits
Eating too much-dried fruit can cause digestive problems, gas, and stomach cramps. It’s all about the high amount of fiber, sugar, and low water content.
The Best Sleep Products:
An option without sugar, but with fiber is pistachios. They contain antioxidants, as well as monounsaturated fats and protein. It keeps you feeling fuller longer and keeps you from waking up hungry in the middle of the night.
But do not overdo it with the amount of this product – it is high in calories.
Conclusion
Let’s face it – many of us live non-stop and in our desire to embrace the immensity sometimes put sleep on the back burner. Unfortunately, this is the wrong approach. Sleep has a huge impact on how we feel throughout the day, and nutrition plays a role in how well we sleep.
Food is directly linked to serotonin, a key hormone that, along with vitamins B6, B12, and folate, promotes healthy sleep. Try to eat foods that calm the body, increase serotonin levels, and prepare you for a pleasant day the next morning.
