5 nightmare inducing foods to avoid before bed

Dairy got the leading roles in these sleeping horror movies

Food specific effects, food-induced distress, folklore influences and casual misattributions are the four strands that explain the food-dependent dreaming.

Associations between sleep characteristics, dietary habits and motivations as an influence to bizarre and disturbing dreams were studied several times over the last century. Diet quality and sleep dissatisfaction were the main focus with the impact of certain foods shown as follows:

  1. Dairy foods

Dairy foods such as cheese, milk or poutine were topping the list of nightmare instigators. They will lower the quality of our sleep and it will be more likely to remember what we have just dreamed of that night as a result of the lack of good sleep.

Expert comments, “this study has shown that many of our traditions, like the glass of milk before bed, go completely against science”.

  1. Sugary foods

Studies have shown sugary food such as chocolate bars, cotton candy or biscuits as promoters of body heat. They are prone to cause uncomfortable and suffocating sleeping routines.

Expert adds, “that late night chocolate treat might cause you some unexpected nightmares, so it is best to eat sugary foods earlier in the day”.

  1. Spicy or Starchy foods

Spicy and starchy foods have become members of the cause-and-effect list of nightmare inducing foods. Their nutritious composition can turn into a correlation of vivid dreams for people overnight.

  1. Greasy or junk food

Greasy food has been shown several times as the hardest food to digest for the body. As a result, they have become known for making you wake up a greater number of times, tossing and turning during the night.

  1. Meat

Lastly, meat has also become one of the top 5 foods inducing nightmares. The problem with eating meat before bedtime is the amount of fat and high protein that it contains. It will be harder for your body to break it down.

Other nightmare inducing factors

Sleeping dissatisfaction was not only associated with food. Emotional (stress or personal low self esteem) and material (mattresses or home decor) matters may lead to poor sleeping routines. Expert commented, 

“Your stress and emotional state can be hard to control as they are impacted by external factors, but habits such as meditation can help you calm before bed. Your sleep set up, however, is within your control so taking action to create a relaxing bedroom and buying a quality mattress will help you avoid disrupted sleep.”

Likewise, studies reported that certain nutrients have been shown to impact sleep in a way of improvement or retrogression. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, there are plenty of factors that may impact sleeping dissatisfaction. Studies have determined healthier diets and more controlled eating were a direct cause for better sleeping.