What to Avoid Eating Before Bed to get a Good Night’s Sleep

The foods we eat before bed can have a big impact on our sleep. So, if you are struggling to get a good night’s sleep, try cutting out these foods a few hours before hitting the hay.

We can all be easily tempted to indulge in a bedtime snack, particularly if we are struggling with sleep or stress. But having a nightcap or slice of chocolate cake before bed can be a recipe for a poor night’s sleep. The foods we eat before bed can have a big impact on our sleep. So, if you are struggling to get a good night’s sleep, try cutting out these foods a few hours before hitting the hay.

1. Alcohol: although alcohol may make you drowsy, it also prevents you from getting deep, regenerative sleep.

2. Cheese: hard cheeses contain high levels of a particularly amino acid (tyramine) which makes your brain more alert – often leading to poor sleep and strange dreams.

3. Spicy foods: lying down after eating a delicious curry or spicy Mexican food is a recipe for heartburn, and a restless night.

4. Fatty foods: fats take a long time to digest, and can therefore disturb your sleep cycles. This includes lots of dairy products, as well as foods like steak high in protein and fat.

5. Sugary foods: dessert may be your favourite meal of the day, but it’s important to not eat those sugary foods too close to bed time. They will not only make it harder to fall asleep, but give you a more restless night and less deep sleep.

So, instead of having a cheeky snack of chocolate before bedtime, try having a banana or some wholegrains before bed to help boost your serotonin and melatonin. Although we love those delicious bedtime snacks, getting a good night’s sleep is always more important. Besides – you can always enjoy those fatty, sugary, spicy foods throughout the rest of the day!