Seven foods that destroy your sleep quality and what you should eat instead
13.03.2024 - 22:19
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Getting a good night's sleep is a sure-fire way to make the following day great. It means you wake up feeling well-rested and alert, and ready to take on the day.
But many of us struggle with drifting off at night, and according to experts, the foods that we're eating could be the cause of this problem.
Food can have a huge impact on your body and certain types can cause disturbances to your sleep. Avoiding these before you settle down for the night can help improve the overall quality of your sleep.
Kerry Beeson, Nutritional Therapist (BSc) at meal prep service Prep Kitchen, has lifted the lid on the food types that can wreak havoc on your sleeping schedule - and what you should choose to snack on instead.
She said: "The timing of our meals can affect our sleep. Digesting food is hard work for our body, so if we eat a big meal just before bed our digestive system will be hard at work overnight. Eat large meals at least 2 hours before bed. Fatty foods, such as cheese, chocolate, fatty meat, or chips, are particularly hard to digest so you might want to eat these at least 3 hours before bedtime."
Spicy foods
Foods containing hot spices such as mustard and types of chilli peppers can cause an increase in body temperature, heartburn and reflux at night, disturbing your sleep.
Fatty foods
High-fat foods such as hard cheese and fatty meats can also cause heartburn and indigestion. Fats are difficult to digest, too, so if you eat them close to bedtime, your body will be working hard to digest them instead of allowing you to relax and sleep.
Sugary foods and refined carbohydrates
High-sugar intake has been associated with poor sleep quality and duration. Sugar and refined carbohydrates are metabolised very quickly and release a