6 foods to avoid before going to bed

Eating just before bed is a bad habit in any case. These days, it seems like everyone has trouble getting enough sleep. Even if you don't have a sleep disorder, you don't need any more obstacles to getting a good night's sleep. Good sleep hygiene includes eating healthy and making wise choices for dinners and late-night snacks, shares nutritionist and certified diabetes educator Dr Archana Batra.

One should limit the intake of stimulants, difficult-to-digest foods, dishes with excessive sugar or spice, and foods that aggravate heartburn. Do you know what are the food items that fall under these categories?

Remember that caffeinated beverages such as soda and caffeinated tea can also keep you awake before bed. Even if you believe you are unaffected by caffeine, it is still a good idea to set a limit during the day. Carbonated beverages can also interfere with digestion.

Chocolate and other caffeine-containing foods act as stimulants. They make it more difficult to enter deeper stages of sleep and reduce the amount of REM sleep you get.

Anyone who suffers from heartburn is aware that spicy foods can cause problems at night. There is yet another reason to avoid them. To sleep, your body temperature should naturally be lower; however, hot peppers can raise your body temperature. Feeling hot can cause you to stay awake longer. If you like spicy food, try eating it for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner.

There are three major reasons why you should avoid eating greasy burgers, fries, and full-fat ice cream during the day. The first is obvious—they're unhealthy and fattening. However, the other two are about sleeping. If you have acid reflux or even just occasional heartburn, fatty meals can cause you to wake up painfully many times during the night. Fatty foods are more difficult to digest, so they stay in your stomach longer, requiring more acid to break them down. Furthermore, they can contribute to weight gain by interfering with your sleep and interfering with your healthy diet.

Alcohol interferes with sleep, despite the fact that many people drink at night to unwind. Alcohol is quickly metabolised by your body, which forces you to wake up when the effects wear off. Alcohol consumption right before bedtime lowers the quality of your sleep and increases the likelihood that you'll wake up in the middle of the night.

Consuming dried fruit in moderation is healthy because it is high in fibre. The high fibre content, however, can cause you to feel bloated and gassy at night, so you should avoid eating it right before bed. Additionally, dried fruit has a lot of sugar, which can cause a hike in sugar levels. Choose fresh fruit if you want a piece of fruit before going to bed.

If you eat calorie-dense cheese or butter for dinner or even just before bed, your digestive system will struggle at night, which will disrupt your sleep.