Heavy Foods Meals which seem to weigh on your stomach actually take longer to digest. Fatty, cheesy and fried foods can lead to indigestion and keep you up at night. Avoid things like cheeseburgers, fries, fried foods and large steaks late in the day. Practicing good sleep hygiene includes healthy nutrition and choosing your dinners and late-night snacks wisely. Here are the foods to avoid at night;
Foods with Hidden Caffeine
Check the nutrition labels. Many foods have caffeine, even when you may not expect it. Tea and soda are usually caffeinated unless labeled otherwise. Plus, some ice creams and desserts have espresso, coffee, or chocolate. Chocolate other foods with caffeine act as stimulants. They make it more difficult to slip into the deeper stages of sleep and decrease the amount of REM sleep you would normally get.
Spicy Foods
Anyone with heartburn knows that spicy dishes can lead to problems at night. Well, there is another reason to avoid them. Naturally, your body temperature should lower to facilitate sleep, however hot peppers can boost your body’s temperature. Feeling hot can actually make you lie awake for longer. If you love food with a kick, try eating it at breakfast or lunch, instead of dinner.
Big portions: Late-night snacking shouldn’t turn into a late-night meal. Keep the total amount of calories under 200 so you won’t have any problems going and staying asleep. You’ll also feel good knowing that you didn’t undo all your healthy eating habits of the day right before bedtime.
High-carb or sugary foods: A little bit of something sweet before bed may be just what you need to rest happy, but if you gobble a huge slice of chocolate cake, the spike in your blood-sugar levels could cause your energy levels to spike and plummet, disrupting your sleep in the process. Avoid cake, cookies, or other desserts as well as carby snacks like crackers or white bread and munch on an apple instead.