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Are you having difficulty getting proper sleep at night?
Do you think it is the food that you ate before going to bed?
What are the foods to avoid eating before sleeping?
Is it unhealthy to eat before sleeping?
Nighttime is the best time to relax and watch your favorite show or browse the internet. And while enjoying your free time, it became a habit to eat also your favorite snacks. Although we believe that eating before sleeping may cause weight gain as metabolism slows down when you are sleeping, health experts say that eating before sleeping may help improve sleep or weight loss.
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Foods to Avoid Eating Before Sleeping
If you noticed that it is difficult for you to get a better sleep when you eat before sleeping, check out which foods you need to avoid at night.
1. Celery
Celery consists mainly of water and a good source of dietary fiber. Celery is good for weight loss but not as a snack before bedtime. If you want an uninterrupted sleep, avoid eating celery.
Celery is a natural diuretic. It can elevate the rate of urination and cause you to run to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
2. Red Meat
Red meat is one of the foods to avoid eating before sleeping. It is rich in protein and fats. Eating red meat before sleeping can cause your body to work on digesting it all through the night, making you uncomfortable to sleep. Your system must be in a relaxed state to get a good sleep.
3. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is very nutritious and a good source of antioxidants. Avoid eating dark chocolate late at night as it is a source of caffeine that can keep you awake. Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant, which affects alertness.
4. Alcohol
People tend to drink alcohol to get better sleep. While you may fall asleep quickly after drinking, it can interrupt your sleep. Alcohol can change a person’s sleeping pattern. It can affect your sleep homeostatic mechanism, which regulates sleepiness and wakefulness.
Additionally, alcohol is diuretic, which increases the need to go to the bathroom. It can also suppress breathing and make you uncomfortable while sleeping.
5. Garlic
Garlic is a species in the onion family. It is very nutritious and can do a lot of wonders for your body. It is good for detoxification, a natural antibiotic that can reduce hypertension and the risk of heart disease.
Some people suffer from allergies to garlic. Symptoms may include irritable bowel and diarrhea. Eating garlic before bedtime may irritate your stomach.
6. Soda
Sodas contain sugar and caffeine. Drinking soda before bedtime can affect your sleep. Caffeine can stay in your system for almost 6 hours, keeping you awake and making it difficult to sleep. Drinking carbonated drinks may also lead to a bloated stomach that may trigger heartburn or reflux.
7. Orange Juice
Orange juice is acidic because of its citric acid content. You should avoid drinking orange juice before sleeping to prevent acid reflux or heartburn. It also contains natural sugar that may affect your blood sugar level.
8. Spicy Food
Eating spicy food before going to bed can prevent you from getting proper sleep. Due to capsaicin, an active component in chili peppers, your body temperature may change and cause discomfort while sleeping. Spicy food may also irritate your stomach and may cause heartburn.
9. Coffee
Drinking coffee is one way to boost energy. There are a lot of health benefits from drinking coffee. It contains antioxidants and beneficial nutrients.
If you drink coffee before going to bed, you might have difficulty falling asleep. It is because of the caffeine that promotes alertness. Caffeine blocks the adenosine, a substance in the body that promotes sleepiness.
10. Water
Drinking water is essential to keep you hydrated. However, drinking water before going to bed can increase the need to urinate at night. This condition is called nocturia. Any interruptions to sleep can disrupt your sleep cycle.
Best practices before sleeping.
In conclusion, if you want to eat snacks, do it three to four hours before sleeping. Choose healthy snacks that will not prevent you from getting better sleep. It can also prevent weight gain and health problems.
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