11 Foods You Should Never Eat Before Bed

Oats 

When eaten at night, their high fiber content can lead to digestive system irritation. 

Vegetables 

Leafy greens are natural diuretics, which can result in you waking during the night to use the bathroom. Other vegetables, such as cabbage and beans, can be difficult for the body to digest. 

Ice Cream 

Sugar and carbohydrates act as a stimulant – the last thing you need when trying to relax and fall asleep! 

Curries 

Capsaicin (the active component of chili peppers) can irritate the stomach, act as a stimulant and harm sleep by raising your body temperature. 

Fruit 

The sugar in fruit acts as a stimulant and can lead to irregular sleeping patterns. 

Cakes 

The combination of carbohydrate and sugar found in treats, such as cakes and cookies, make it harder for the body to relax. 

Red Meat 

When eaten too close to bedtime, red meat will not be digested properly. Alternative late-night proteins can include turkey or yogurt. 

Pizza 

Along with other greasy, fatty foods, pizza places a lot of stress on the stomach – especially when eaten shortly before bed. The cheese and tomato toppings found on pizzas are often acidic, making heartburn more likely. 

Dark Chocolate 

Caffeine is a key ingredient in dark chocolate, which contains a number of other stimulants. 

Alcohol 

It may help you fall asleep, but it won’t help you stay asleep – and the sleep you get will be lousy. 

Caffeine 

Obvious, yes – but it still has to make the list. Avoid coffee and other forms of caffeine after noon (the effects of caffeine last for ten hours). 

Source: Medical Daily 

The content above has been modified from its original posting on Insomnia Land.

Photo credit: Mic hael/Shutterstock.com