5 Foods that are Keeping You Up at Night

Time to Freaking Get a Better Sleep Already!

I’ve always been amazed by the complex relationship between sleep and diet.

When you get poor sleep it’s incredible how much it can impact your day, everything from productivity to energy to your mood get impacted in a big way. But sometimes we forget that what we eat has a big part in this.

A handful of foods can actually interfere with your ability to fall and stay asleep. You’ll see some pretty big improvements by avoiding these foods later in the day, and in the end, it’s a pretty simple solution to your sleep problems.

Here are the culprits…

The 5 Top Foods that Can Interfere with Your Sleep

Hidden Caffeine – I’m sure you already know to avoid coffee or pop before bed, since caffeine is one of the worst things to consume later in the day. It can keep you from falling asleep, or even lead you to wake up unable to sleep. But there’s a lot of hidden caffeine to look for, so start checking your labels.

A big one for me was decaf coffee, which you would think should go without thought but unfortunately a recent study has found most to still contain enough caffeine to interfere with sleep.  Other culprits include chocolate, non-cola sodas, energy drinks and pain relievers.

Alcohol – You may have noticed the impact of alcohol on sleep after a night out, but research shows that even a drink or two can be enough to keep you from having a sound sleep. It also seems to reduce the time you spend in REM sleep, which is an important part of sleep for restoration and mental performance.

Aged or Fermented Foods – Whether it’s aged cheese, cured meats, or smoked fish of some kind, these items can interfere with sleep because of one ingredient. They all contain an amino acid called tyramine, which essentially acts as a stimulant on the brain and can keep you awake.

Acidic Foods – I’ve found this one to get worse with age. Acidic foods like tomato sauce and spicy dishes can lead to a lot of discomfort at night, including heartburn and acid reflux. This seems to be a big problem for a lot of people, so it’s one that’s definitely worth omitting if you’re having problem with sleep.

Water – Yup, as healthy as this stuff is, water can lead you to have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. This one varies from person to person, but at the very least, I’d avoid gulping down a big glass just before bed.

Looking for the right health bedtime snacks? Check out my Top 5 Healthy Bedtime Snacks here.

And if you need more tips to help you get a good night’s sleep, take a look at my article, Can’t Sleep? Top 10 Sleep Remedies.

Have any questions or feedback about these 5 Foods that are Keeping You Up at Night? Please leave a comment below…