If you have been having difficulty drifting off lately, it might well be your diet which is causing it. Here are some of the foods you should avoid eating before you go to bed;
Tyramine-rich foods
Tyramine is an amino acid found in processed meats, cheese, nuts and red wine. This chemical triggers the release of noradrenaline which stimulates the brain and prevents you from falling asleep. As food ages, the levels of tyramine increases, so it is best to say no to the cheese board and steer clear of aged cheeses such as blue, cheddar, Swiss, Gouda, feta and Brie as well as dried meats such as salami, pepperoni, bacon and corned beef. Soy sauce and fish sauce also contain high levels of tyramine as well as marmite and unpasteurised beer or ale.
High fat, high sugar foods
Junk food such as burgers, sugary sodas, fries, pizza and hot dogs over stimulate the production of acid in the stomach which can lead to heartburn and indigestion. Fatty foods also impact on the brain chemical hypocretin, a neurotransmitter which manages appetite and keeps you awake. A high sugar content will also rapidly increase blood sugar levels which leads to the inevitable sugar crash, when your body senses this chemical imbalance it will disturb the sleep cycle and cause you to wake up.
Caffeine
Most of us know that drinking coffee before bed is an obvious no-no, but did you know that caffeine has a half-life of over 5 hours, which means that 25% of it will still be in your system even up to 10 hours later and 12.5% 20 hours later? This means that a cheeky cup of coffee to beat the afternoon slump could be the reason you aren’t able to sleep at night. Dark chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine, along with theobromine and phenylethylamine, which also have caffeine-like effects.
Spicy foods
Studies have shown that spicy foods can directly impact on the body’s thermoregulation abilities, which in turn impacts on your ability to sleep. Foods such as mustard and tabasco sauce can cause indigestion which disturbs sleep, as well as interfering with the body’s thermoregulation process.
If you would like to find out more about how REM-Fit Sleep Monitoring technology orZeeq Smart Pillowscan help you to get a better night’s rest, please get in touch with our experienced, knowledgeable staff by calling 020 8731 0020 or email us via sales@rem-fit.co.uk.
Don’t forget, you can stay updated by liking our Facebook page.
