sleep patterns

Do you find yourself tossing and turning at night?

Food and drink before bedtime might be the culprit.
We all know that caffeine, to most people, will create a restless night. Coffee, teas, even chocolate.

The CDC recommends that adults get at least seven hours of sleep a night for optimum health and well-being. And it’s not just about feeling tired and cranky, because chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a host of chronic health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, depression, and diabetes, according to a study published May 2017 in Nature and Science of Sleep.

Considering how much of an impact sleep (or lack thereof) has on your health and happiness, it’s worth exploring whether your diet could be interfering with your shuteye. While everyone’s bodies (and digestive systems) differ, and foods that affect your slumber may not make a difference to someone else, the following foods are the most common culprits when it comes to messing with sleep.

Pizza – High in saturated fats like fried foods, butter, and ice cream
Smoothies – Especially fruity ones are high in sugar. Try an all veggies one if close to bedtime

Cheese – Strong or aged cheeses such as cheddar, gruyere or parmesan contain high amounts of the amino acid tyramine which increases heart rate.

Tomatoes – Acidic foods can irritate the stomach lining and elevate acidic pH levels in the body, triggering indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux.

Hot Sauce – Acid Reflux is more likely to happen when spicy foods are eaten close to when you are lying down.

Water – Although so many of us walk around tired, listless, and irritable because of mild dehydration without knowing it, the time to load up on liquids is not before bed. Drinking too much can keep you up during the night because of the need to urinate often, thereby disrupting your rest.

Alcohol - A nip of alcohol, a depressant, before bedtime may help you fall asleep faster, but it interferes with the quality of your slumber by reducing REM sleep and causing disruptions, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to sleep apnea and heavy snoring.

Do you consume foods and liquids too close to bedtime?

#restfulsleep #bedtime #bettersleep #foodasmedicine #betterhealth #yourwellnessredefined