Foods to steer clear of for better sleep

What you eat for your last meal of the day significantly affects how you sleep. It has long been known that it is better not to overeat in the evening. However, we are not always aware of which specific foods can disrupt our night's relaxation. Here are some tips on what to avoid.

Dinner should be the smallest meal of the day in terms of volume. Eating it 2-3 hours before bed is best so as not to burden the stomach at night. But it's also worth considering what foods to eat in the evening. Some can disrupt sleep. It's not even worth mentioning alcohol, as it is well-known to stimulate the nervous system and significantly disturb nighttime rest. What other foods and meals can cause restless sleep?

Tomatoes and tomato products. Generally, vegetables are recommended for dinner because they are easy to digest. However, tomatoes can irritate the stomach lining and increase the pH level in the body. This can lead to indigestion and heartburn, which can make it very difficult to sleep. It would help if you also watched out for juices, soups, or sauces whose main ingredient is tomatoes, as the consequences can be the same as with fresh tomatoes.

Cheeses. At the top of the list is yellow cheese. It contains a lot of protein and tryptophan, which aid in falling asleep. However, it is also a fatty and high-calorie product, similar to blue cheeses. Large amounts of fat disrupt sleep. Therefore, it is better not to plan cheese feasts in the evening and instead choose low-fat cottage cheese for dinner.

Spicy dishes. Spicy snacks, such as those seasoned with pepper, can exacerbate insomnia. Dishes that burn the mouth also irritate the digestive tract and burden the liver, contributing to hyperacidity. In such cases, peaceful sleep is out of the question.

Sweets. It's better to skip desserts and sugary drinks after dinner. Sugar equals calories and energy that we do not need at night. Most sweets are also hard to digest, and many contain trans fats. This burdens the body and often contributes to insomnia.

Dark chocolate. Like coffee, it contains caffeine. Of course, such chocolate also has many health benefits, but it's better not to eat it in the evening.