New Delhi: Having a midnight snack need is normal, but knowing that doing so may be harmful to your health is vital. But that does not mean, we should go to bed hungry, we just need to make sure that we have eaten a proper food item before having a good night sleep. It is all about being intentional about your late-night food and selecting meals that promote peaceful sleep. Find out what you should not eat just before bed:
Alcohol
Some people find that alcohol is useful for sleep. It’s true that alcohol might help you fall asleep, but it also disrupts your body’s normal sleep cycle. Alcohol consumption causes general muscular relaxation, which may amplify snoring and OSA symptoms. Alcohol also influences the esophageal sphincter muscle. Acid reflux is often experienced as it relaxes.
Caffeinated Drinks and Food Items
Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system; thus, it helps you feel more awake and energetic. For this reason, consuming caffeinated meals and drinks including coffee, tea, and Coke products with caffeine may have a detrimental impact on your ability to go to sleep and keep you awake. Consuming coffee, even many hours before night, has been shown to disrupt sleep. Consuming high levels of caffeine can even also affect sleep for more than one day.
Leafy Vegetables
Vegetables like Spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage are among the healthiest foods you can eat, but they may not be the ideal choice just before bed. Because your digestive system will still be working to process when you go to sleep, and the digestion of these veggies may prevent you from sleeping. There is a chance this might cause stomach pain or indigestion.
Citric or Acidic Fruits and Vegetables
Eating citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables keeps your brain active and prevents you from falling asleep. Citrus fruits are not inherently harmful, but they shouldn’t be eaten just before night since they might lead to acidity and indigestion. Not only will the continual pain keep you up all night, but it will also ruin your day.
Fatty and Spicy Foods
Fatty foods take longer to digest and hence feel heavier while eating, the same goes for spicy foods. Indigestion and restlessness are two side effects of eating too much fried, spicy, fatty, or cheesy food. Your body temperature naturally drops as you get ready for bed, but eating spicy foods might raise it and make it more difficult to fall asleep. You may save your spicy food for daytime meals. Late-night eating should always be light.
Sugary Food Items
Consuming sugary food items just before bedtime might disrupt sleep quality. Sweets like cookies, candies, cakes, ice cream, and chocolates aren’t the easiest on the digestive system, and they might keep you up at night. That’s why avoiding sugary foods, which may raise your blood sugar quickly, is so important.
