Bad, Diane. It’s 3:30!
It’s coffee that will rob me of sleep. Unfortunately, it’s a lesson that I keep on learning — the hard way. If I have a cup first thing in the morning and another no later that one in the afternoon, I’m usually ok. But sometimes I “forget” to say no, especially when my husband brews up a fresh pot when he gets home from work. It’s hard to resist!
I know I’m not the only one who has figured out that coffee can lead to a sleepless night. If you’ve been suffering from insomnia, maybe you should take a close look at what you eat before you go to bed.
Caffeine-laced coffee isn’t the only culprit. And by the way, decaf coffee usually contains just enough caffeine to keep some people awake, especially if they’re caffeine sensitive.
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Let’s add a few more items to the caffeine list. Chocolate, for one. The darker the chocolate the more caffeine it contains. If you MUST have a nibble before you say goodnight, make it milk chocolate.
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Soda contains caffeine and also, the bubbles may be irritating and could lead to reflux once you’ve stretched out and rested your head against the pillow.
Spicy food can cause heartburn and also raise your core body temperature, which has been linked to a bad night’s sleep.
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Eat a high fiber vegetable like broccoli and cauliflower too close to bedtime and you may toss and turn as your digestive system works overtime trying to digest the fiber.
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Foods with a high water content — celery, cucumbers, watermelon, radishes — are natural diuretics, which means they make you pee, maybe all night long.
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A night-cap may make you drowsy enough to get to sleep, but it’s apt to wake you up several times during the night. Alcohol also robs you of REM or rapid eye movement sleep, which we need for concentration, memory and motor skills.
DCortezPhotography / Pixabay
Finally, a high-fat meal may cause eight hours of indigestion and heartburn instead of eight hours of shuteye.
What if you’re really hungry?
What can you eat if you’re hungry before bedtime? Registered dietitian Kit Broihier has some recommendations: “A small bowl of lower-sugar cereal/oatmeal and low-fat milk is what I often suggest if someone really needs a bedtime snack,” she says. “This combo contains nutrients (unlike lots of other snack-type foods that folks might nosh on before bed) and isn’t difficult to digest (provided you’re not lactose intolerant).”
Some final words of sleep wisdom
In general, you should try not to eat too close to bedtime, says Kit. If you give your body a few hours to digest dinner, you’ll be more able to relax AND sleep come bedtime.
Do you have a bedtime snack ritual that helps you sleep all night long? Cup of warm milk maybe? Please share your secret.
Nighty night and sweet dreams!
A good night’s sleep is a very important aspect of our health. If I exercise, eat healthy, etc. but don’t get a good night’s sleep, the other things I do won’t be as effective. My brain, spirit, and body need this rest. There are so many resources to help with this including this blog topic. Meditation, some special breathing, prayer, soft music can also help. Check out the Insight Timer app for some great meditations and music for sleep and other things.
Great advice Bill. I have the Insight Timer app on my phone and have found several good meditations.