Eight hours of sleep…..aaah who wouldn’t pay for that? In a growing sleep crisis in America most are paying for so much more…..burgers, beer, fried foods, pizza, heartburn, tossing and turning, headaches and hangovers. What is it going to take to get that coveted healing sleep? Here are some foods and drinks to avoid before bedtime.
Burgers
There are wonderful burger joints popping up all over America and their specialties are amazing. Great flavors, yummy cheese and bacon…bacon makes the world go round. Check out the top 10 list of Burger Joints according to TripAdvisor.
Yet with all those wonderful yummy bites comes high fats. High fats trigger acid production which can turn into heartburn. Fats, acid and heartburn are not a recipe for great sleep.
Alcohol
What can a nightcap do to hurt your sleep? Shoot ‘Nightcap’ even sounds like a sleep aid. “Alcohol may seem to be helping you to sleep, as it helps induce sleep, but overall it is more disruptive to sleep, particularly in the second half of the night,” says researcher Irshaad Ebrahim. He is the medical director at The London Sleep Centre in the U.K. “Alcohol also suppresses breathing and can precipitate sleep apnea,” or pauses in breathing that happen throughout the night.”
Caffeine
This might be the most obvious thing to avoid before bedtime yet so many of indulge a glass of black gold a few hours before bedtime. Each person is different and over time you’ll learn when is the last hour you should have a cup of joe. Sleep experts recommend that you should avoid caffeine 6 hours before bedtime.
Don’t forget that caffeine is also hiding in soda as well as the the large amounts of sugar.
Soda
Even if your favorite carbonated drink is caffeine free it is loaded with sugar and other fake sugars. According to Beth Fontenot, MS, RD, LDN “People who slept no more than five hours drank 26% more regular soda and 33% more caffeinated beverages than those who slept seven to eight hours.” Give it a shot. Say no to sugary drinks.
Chicken
This sounds crazy as lean chicken is so healthy for us and for our weight loss. Really any kind of protein shortly before bedtime can really keep us awake. The proteins need to be digested and it is like starting an engine in your body that takes all that energy to break down those foods.
The list goes on and on. Check out Health.com for a complete rundown on what you should avoid.
What foods and drink are good before bedtime? We don’t want to be so Debbie Downer. So keep an eye out for a future article that will give you a list of good foods before bedtime.