Are You Eating These Foods That Could Impact Your Sleep?

Getting enough sleep? It's hard for some of us to make sure we’re getting what we need. Some nights we toss and turn, reminding ourselves how much sleep we’ll get if we go to sleep right then. 

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It could be that there’s a bigger problem causing us not to be able to sleep, normally an honest conversation with your doctor should be able to help that. If you’re not wanting to go that route first, try looking at what you are eating and drinking before bed. 

According to AARP, here are seven foods and beverages you should avoid, some may make sense, while others may be surprising to you and may be the reason you’re not resting well.  

Aged Cheese- These types of cheeses contain a lot of tyramine, which can cause your blood and heart rate to increase which can make it hard for you to be able to go to sleep.  

If you really want cheese before bed, it is suggested that you choose cheeses that are made with pasteurized milk.  

Steak and Chicken- As tasty as these entrees are, they take longer to digest. Your digestion slows down by about 50% at night, anyway, adding foods that break down slower can keep you awake. 

Popcorn- It's a great snack at night, just not right before you go to bed. A survey from the National Sleep Foundation says that those who eat popcorn right before bed get as much as 12 minutes less sleep per night. 

That may not seem like a lot, but if you’re above average, then you could be losing a lot more sleep than you realize. 

Citrus Fruits- The acids in these fruits can and normally do come right back up once you lay down if you them too soon before bed. These acids can create acid reflux or heartburn, which many of us know all too well how that can impact your sleep. 

Tomatoes- For some of the same reasons you are encouraged to not eat fruit before bed, tomatoes can generate acids that create heartburn and keep you awake. 

Alcohol- Having a drink before bed can make you sleepy, but research shows that it can affect your REM sleep which can also cause a decline in the other stages of sleep. 

And lastly, this one may seem obvious, but Coffee, Tea or other caffeinated beverages can make it hard to go to sleep, and even if you get to slumberland, it may be a bumpy road trying to rest.  

I get up at 3am during the week, I understand how difficult it is to be able to eat and then have enough time before bed, but hopefully these tips will cause you to try to plan a little more about when you eat compared to the time you decide to call it a night.