There are some foods that we love and find nutritious, but they can become detrimental if consumed right before sleep, according to the health-focused website "Healthline." Many nutritious foods can have the opposite effect if eaten at an inappropriate time of day, particularly at night and before bedtime. Consuming certain types of food too close to sleep can hinder our ability to fall asleep, leading to nighttime heartburn or indigestion, which in turn causes insomnia and prevents us from enjoying a restful night’s sleep.
Doctors and nutrition experts typically advise avoiding fatty foods during dinner and sticking to a light meal several hours before bed. Eating fatty, cheesy, or fried foods late in the day can contribute to indigestion and disrupt your nighttime rest. So, what are the foods that are best to avoid before going to sleep?
1) **High Water Content Foods**
Avoid foods with high water content, such as celery, watermelon, and cucumber. Eating these foods close to bedtime can leave your bladder full, causing you to wake up in the middle of the night for a bathroom visit, which can affect your sleep quality.
2) **Spicy Foods**
Consuming spicy foods right before bed can lead to indigestion and trigger heartburn. Capsaicin, a compound found in spicy foods, may raise your body temperature and interfere with sleep.
3) **Bananas**
While bananas are high in potassium and beneficial for immune system function and skin health, eating this fruit at dinner or after can lead to mucus production and indigestion.
4) **Apples**
Pectin, a type of fiber found in apples, helps control blood sugar and cholesterol levels, but it can be difficult to digest at night, potentially leading to acid reflux. Nutrition experts also recommend avoiding fruits during dinner.
5) **Broccoli and Cauliflower**
These vegetables are packed with vitamins but also contain a significant amount of insoluble fiber, which takes longer to digest. Eating them before bed may cause your body to continue working on digestion during sleep, interfering with restful sleep.
6) **Nuts**
Nuts like almonds, pistachios, and walnuts can help maintain normal blood pressure and promote heart health, but their high fat and calorie content can lead to weight gain if eaten after dinner.
7) **Dark Chocolate**
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and is known to reduce aging and the risk of heart disease. However, it also contains caffeine and amino acids that enhance alertness. Thus, eating dark chocolate close to bedtime may keep you awake all night.
