What Foods Do You Avoid Before Going To Bed

@wolfie34 (26771)
United Kingdom
September 8, 2009 3:22pm CST
They say that certain foods when eaten before going to bed can actually lead to a bad night's sleep, insomnia, nightmares or feelings of discomfort. Obviously if you are sharing a bed then onions and garlic are out of the question unless you know otherwise? I think caffeine is also bad before going to bed, like chocolate and I believe cheese is also bad for you to eat before sleep? But are there any foods that you know if you eat them they will interrupt your sleep patterns and cause a sleepless night in one way or another? I write this as I am tucking into a cheese sandwich at 9.30pm at night, although I have another 2 and half hours before I go to bed. Do you make sure you don't eat anything after a certain time before going to bed? Or are there any foods that you SHOULD eat before going to bed that will actually HELP you to sleep and cure any sleep problems I know Valerin is good for me to take when I have insomnia but I was wonderful if there were any foods that can actually help you get a good night's sleep? Or ones to avoid.
10 people like this
50 responses
• United States
8 Sep 09
I avoid anything that is heavy. When I have trouble sleeping I will get up and have a bowl of cornflakes with milk. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.
2 people like this
8 Sep 09
The story of cheese causing nightmares is a myth. It's quite interesting actually, it all stems from "A Christmas Carol" where Scrooge blames the apparitions on a "crumb of cheese" he ate. It's not any more disruptive than anything else though. I think you just need common sense in general. Like a massive pizza last thing at night isn't going to encourage rest! I usually try to avoid caffeine after about 7pm too. I like valerian tea. I think it helps to relax you at bedtime. I know that lettuce is a mild sedative, but that's all I can think of at the moment!
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
Phew, I can relax now I've polished off my cheese sandwich! I do like a hot chocolate at night, but of course that has caffeine in it, so maybe not a good idea. Thanks for your recommendations appreciated.
1 person likes this
8 Sep 09
I didn't know hot chocolate had caffeine in it! I thought it was a perfect bedtime drink. I'll have to be more careful now.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
8 Sep 09
It really is a case of 'one man's poison...' I cannot sleep if I have cheese before I go to bed but coffee, Italian espresso which is so strong, makes no difference to me whatsoever.
@GardenGerty (157047)
• United States
9 Sep 09
I think cheese and dairy products help me sleep better. I find that things with lots of sugar and fat give me bad reflux and I do not sleep well. No coffee after 6 pm. I have vitamins I will not take at night because they energize me. On the other hand, calcium and magnesium make me sleep better.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Sep 09
hi gardengerty also for me anyway calcium and magnesium keep me from having those painful leg cramps.
@kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
11 Sep 09
Normally, though, I don't really like to eat anything before going to bed, but, if I do I try to avoid sugary foods and snacks. Usually foods high in Tryptophan such a turkey or milk will help to make you sleepy. You might try a glass of warm milk before going to bed. Tryptophan is a chemical that helps to induce sleep. Go on the Internet and check out other foods that are high in Tryptophan. Also, I love herbal teas. Chamomile tea is great for helping you sleep at night. I hope this helps. Purrs, Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
13 Sep 09
Yes, thank you my friend, you are always helpful and supportive towards Wolfie x
@Humbug25 (12540)
8 Sep 09
Hi ya wolfie34 I can eat pretty much anything before going to bet and it won't interfere (where is that darn dictionary) with a good nights sleep for me. My head hits the pillow and I am out like a light. I very rarely remember my dreams when I wake up so I don't know I have had a dream. The only thing I try not to do before going to bed is drink anything! I hate having to wake in the night to visit the toilet!!
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
You have me in fits, always remembering the dictionary when teacher Wolfie is on patrol and yet I won't mention you spelt bed wrong and interfere right PMSL. Sorry I shouldn't tease you all the time, I won't do it again, honest! I do find I am up two or three times in the night needing to piddle. I do drink a lot but I can't help it I have a pyschological condition that I need to drink, sounds complicated I know but the GP and I have ruled out any physical conditions c'est la vie! Sweet dreams
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
10 Sep 09
Hey I don't mind you teasing me wolfie, it's quite endearing, have I spelt that right? hahaha. I am glad this discussion wasn't on gambling or you might have thought I had a problem hahaha
@suzzy3 (8342)
8 Sep 09
It does not make any difference what I eat before going to bed wolfie.Not sleeping has become part of my life,some say it is depression some say it is the change of life.No matter what excepting my fate is what helps me cope.Moaning about it just gets me down,so I except the fact and go from there.They do say avoiding cheese caffeine.After having long spells at trying different things and avoiding others it does not make a blind bit of difference to me.so I eat and drink what takes my fancy and just get on with it.Midnight in England and just cannot sleep so here we are again typing like mad.Just as well we have this something to do.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
9 Sep 09
Glad I am keeping you busy my friend! I used to stay up till 3am in the morning because I am more of a night owl, nocturnal, I find that I can sleep right through the morning and stay up late at night, I guess that is why I used to find shift work so easy and enjoyable but I would always have the munchies!
@nannacroc (4049)
8 Sep 09
Apparently eating a banana about an hour before bed time is supposed to help you sleep. I was always told they were too 'heavy' but recent research seems to have disproved this, I wouldn't normally just take it for granted but I have tried it and it worked for me. Anything with onions is bad for me but, in spite of caffeine supposedly being bad, I sleep much better after a nice cup of tea. Take care.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
Hi Nana, I am forever eating bananas, because of the energy they give me for training at the gym and the potassium etc in them, they are full of goodness! Take care too dear friend.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
8 Sep 09
I just eat...I used to be careful about what I ate..I would get indigestion but now I get up in the middle of the night and eat a few slices of pepperoni to get me through the night. I am so tired almost nothing disturbs my sleep (other than a full bladder). What is valerin? My husband uses melatonin.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
Hi Debs, valerin is a root which is an aid to sleep, it's herbal and I was recommended it when I went to the Herbal Medicine School in London. No matter how much or how little I drink I always seem to find I wake up once or twice in the middle of the night for a p ;0)
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
8 Sep 09
The only thing that stops me from sleeping is cheese and I can't drink water before going to bed either. That just doesn't seem to go down. I often have a cup of hot 'tiglio' which I think translates into lime seeds. The effect is similar to valerian I guess and it just seems to help me get a good night's deep, restful sleep.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
Glad it works for you my friend, sweet dreams ;0)
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Sep 09
Stay away from: Anything with caffeine or that will give me acid stomach (tomato sauce, greasy food, anything acidic really). Helps: Warm milk (yuck), chamomile tea...
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
I always drink my coffee black. I don't drink tea either. Ewww greasy food being a health freak I stay away from 24/7
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Sep 09
I'm rather fond of Kentucky Fried chicken (the nasty greasy original version) but it's not too kind to me...
• Indonesia
10 Sep 09
Ah, chamomile tea! I love it too beside chrysanthemum tea! And seems like we both like KFC original
• India
9 Sep 09
Before going to bed i usually avoid taking heavy and spicy food because it is difficult to digest,chocolates harmful for teeth and icecream.But sometimes it is OK.I do not make it my daily use because it is not good for health.
1 person likes this
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
8 Sep 09
I tend to stay away from anything spicy, or with to much acidity(like tomato sauce), because I get frequent heartburn and that is one of the worst things to wake up from. I usually don't eat anything at least a couple of hours before I try and lie down. Caffeine really doesn't keep me awake at all. So I will drink soda all the way up until bedtime(yes, I know that's a bad habit). As for food that help you fall asleep, besides turkey, which has a chemical in it that makes you drowsy, someone once told me that bananas also make you sleepy.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Sep 09
Hi wolfie34, Foods to avoid or not to avoid depends which way you look at it. Pizza specially big pieces of pizza with no green salad is a big no no or a big yes yes lol. Cheese can keep you awake a while and the stronger the cheese more so. Porridge Oats can make you sleepy now that I donĀ“t think would be your style they are a brilliant antiacid antidote though if you do get indigestion from so much pizza or other McDonalds Double and all those sort of fast foods. Chinese take away are my favourites but they take away my sleep for a good three hours too. Pizza affects me less because I eat a big salad green only as tomatoes last thing at night can keep you awake too because they are energy giving foods. Fish and Chips is one to avoid altogether last thing at night and Kebabs too. Enjoy your cheese sandwich because what really matters is that you are enjoying what you are eating and not what others tell you to eat. I miss cheese sandwiches with loads of Daddies Sauce on them another no no for a goodnights sleep. Reckon to avoid fried fatty and too much salted food is the best answer.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
I am not big on fast food or junk food, the nearest I get to junk food is cheese and chocolate because I train heavily at the gym, (you'd think with all the exercise I did I wouldn't have a problem sleeping!) I don't even eat chips believe it or not and pizza to me is just like eating grease especially if it's from Pizza Hut nasty! Well at least I've enjoyed my cheese sandwich oh and for the record it was granary bread and not white, see health food freak me!
@Masssko (238)
• Estonia
8 Sep 09
Hi! I would advice to avoid eating mushrooms before going to bed. Mushrooms are really heavy food, which is healthy, but still difficult to digest. So If You like mushrooms You should try to eat them 4or more hours before going to sleep. I have read that in theory and it perfectly works for me as well. Curiously, I don't have problems with caffeine and often drink coffee in evenings, it even makes me sleepy sometimes. I've also heard that eating protein-rich food makes you less sleepy and may affect your dreams, for example meat, beans of even bananas. Have a good sleep in future and jolly myLotting!
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Sep 09
I think caffeine affects different people in different ways. I like to have a hot chocolate before bed which relaxs me and chocolate is of course caffeine. Thank you for your response. Happy Mylotting too!
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
14 Sep 09
Hello wolfie. If I feel hungry, I will still eat anything that is available in the house. An empty stomach makes me feel difficult to fall asleep. But I try not to eat something sweet or if I have eaten it, I will brush my teeth again before going to bed to protect my teeth, as is my usual practice. Take care, wolfie.
• United States
27 Jan 10
I try to avoid caffeine period, but definitely after lunch on because it's affects can stick with you for 8 or so hours. I've heard that you should avoid sugar too, but I can remember my grandma saying when she couldn't sleep, she would get up and have something sweet and it would do the trick, so who knows about that. I've had luck with eating some cottage cheese or a banana when I can't get to sleep. If I recall correctly, cottage cheese has triptifan much like turkey which relaxes you.
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
7 Nov 09
Thanks for the information you have mentioned but i usually don't mind eating anything before going to bed.Sometimes when i go to bed i will have a bar of chocolate and then go to sleep.Only if i sleep in the afternoons then only i don't get sleep in the night.I never take cheese at night before going to sleep it will make my stomach heavy.
@liquorice (3887)
9 Sep 09
My main comment here is coffee!! I love the stuff but it is also very bad for me because even if I drink a cup in the morning I can spend the whole night awake, frustratedly tossing and turning. Up until recently I was ok as long as I didn't have it too late in the day, but my tolerance is obviously worsening for some reason. So you might want to try avoiding coffee (and maybe other caffeine products) altogether, rather than just not having them before you go to bed. Though for some reason tea doesn't affect me much. I think it has less caffeine and maybe a different type of caffeine... Also eating too late in the day is a bad idea, it's recommended that you don't eat anything in the 3 hours before going to bed. And you should probably particularly avoid late-night snacks of chocolate (because of the caffeine and sugar content) as well as other sugary food. And fatty or spicy food might keep you up for digestive reasons. I wrote an article on HubPages which includes some things like this (http://hubpages.com/_x8qozdkx59zj/hub/A-Few-Tips-on-How-to-Get-a-Good-Nights-Sleep) - although I'm not always that great at taking my own advice, lol! Maybe you'll find some tips to help you there.
@liquorice (3887)
9 Sep 09
http://hubpages.com/_x8qozdkx59zj/hub/A-Few-Tips-on-How-to-Get-a-Good-Nights-Sleep
• China
12 Nov 09
I especially avoid having coffee before going to bed.coffee not only makes me lose sleep but also makes my stomach feel upset.in fact,I believe it is better not to eat anything before going to bed,which can cause gain weight.I think it is the last thing most people hope to happen. have a nice day !
@srija12 (211)
• India
12 Nov 09
Hi wolfie34, We are supposed to avoid junk foods during night and need to have a cup of milk to have nice sleep.And should not have spicy food.Night time we need to have bit little amount of food.And just go for a quick walk and go to bed.