Foods That Can Keep You Up at Night
By Sara Butler
If you find that you're incessantly tossing and turning at night, it might be due to the foods you're eating during the day. In fact, you may be doing all you can to encourage healthy sleep, from keeping your bedroom cool and dark to turning off your electronics at least an hour before bedtime. But if you're still struggling to slumber, then it might be time to take a look at what you're eating during the day. If it's one of these foods, you may have just found the culprit.
Chocolate
Don't shoot the messenger! People love chocolate and it has some serious health benefits if you choose the right kind, but if you're eating it after dinner as a treat, then it may be the reason you're having trouble falling asleep.
The reason? Caffeine. Chocolate contains caffeine and that can cause you to have trouble sleeping as well as reduce your ability to stay asleep. Cut out the chocolate in the evenings and you may find a solution to your sleepless nights.
Fatty Food
If you're eating a deep-fried dinner, then it may just be the reason you can't get some shut-eye. Foods high in fat take longer to digest than other foods, which means they can cause indigestion and bloating that hampers you from getting comfortable enough to nod off. Skip the chicken wings in the hours before bed.
Spicy Foods
Spicy foods aren't necessarily bad for you. In fact, they can help to boost your metabolism. But if you're eating them in the evening, then they can cause indigestion and keep you awake. Plus, spicy foods can increase your body's core temperature, leading to a struggle to fall asleep and stay that way.
Peppermint
If you pop a peppermint to freshen your breath after dinner or slip some mint into your herbal tea to help you relax before bed, then you may be setting yourself up for a sleepy time failure. Mint can be a trigger for heartburn and heartburn can most definitely keep you awake at night.
There's nothing quite as frustrating as not being able to fall asleep at night. Set yourself up for success by not eating these foods in the hours before bed and save the delicious stuff for your dreams. If you know what to avoid in the hours before bed, you'll fall asleep faster and wake up feeling refreshed -- and hungry!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Long Beach, Calif.