Foods And Beverages To Avoid Before Bedtime
Since making the move from mornings to afternoons on K104.7, I’ve rediscovered the joy of waking up with the sun rather than before it. However, I’ve also found that I can’t always fall asleep right away anymore. When I was getting up at 3:45 AM, I had no trouble falling asleep anytime or anywhere. Now that I’m back on a more conventional sleep schedule, I have to work a little harder to wear myself out.
I’m also watching what I eat and drink before going to bed. According to nutritionists, some foods and beverages can definitely interrupt a good night’s sleep and even cause stomach aches or nightmares. The folks at Food Network compiled a list of eight things to avoid consuming close to bedtime:
- Burgers – Your digestive tract can go into overdrive with a heavy, fatty meal and too much saturated fat was linked to more wakefulness in a recent study.
- Coffee – If the caffeine affects you, avoid it within six hours of trying to sleep.
- Orange Juice – The acidity can trigger heartburn and a sensitive bladder. It’s better to eat a whole piece of fruit because the carbohydrates can help you sleep and the fiber aids in slower sugar absorption.
- Pizza – All that cheese could lead to nightmares. The acid in the tomato sauce can cause a few trips to the bathroom in addition to a stomach ache.
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- Soda – Possible caffeine and sugar in non-diet sodas, plus the carbonation, can add to more sleep issues.
- Spicy Foods – Prone to irritate your stomach and worsen heartburn at night.
- Sugary Cereal – The sugar digests rapidly and the increase in blood sugar could mess with your sleep hormones. Also, low-fiber foods are linked to lighter sleep.
- Wine – A glass or two after dinner might make you sleepy, but alcohol disrupts natural sleep patterns and could cause you to get up and pee during the night.
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