I’m a dietitian – I always tell my patients to avoid six foods and drinks before bed to avoid an uneasy night of sleep

A DIETITIAN has shared the top six foods and drinks to avoid before going to bed if you want a restful night of sleep.

Eating before bed can offer some benefits, such as decreasing stress. However, eating certain foods before hitting the pillow can also ruin your sleep.

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Registered dietitian Julie Stefanski recommended that people avoid these foods if they want to get a good night’s sleep.

SPICY FOODS

These foods are best eaten at lunch or dinner, said Stefanski. Spicy foods can cause digestion issues in the middle of the night after you’ve already fallen asleep.

They also have a high level of capsaicin, which increases your metabolism and can disrupt your sleep. Eating too much spicy food can restore engird balance in your body, which will make it harder for you to fall asleep.

ALCOHOL

Stefanski says that drinking before bed is a big mistake if you want to get uninterrupted sleep. 

Research shows that consuming alcohol before bed can interfere with REM sleep, while also making it hard to get up the next morning.

FRIED FOOD

While healthy fats, such as avocados and nuts and seed, is OK, saturated fats and fried foods should be avoided before bed.

Fried and fatty foods are known to disturb digestion during the night, said Stefanski.

ACIDIC FOODS

It’s best to eat foods that decrease stomach acid production right before bed. This, of course, means avoiding acidic foods.

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This includes sugar, grains, dairy and meat products, and baked goods.

SODA AND CAFFEINE

Obviously, if you’re trying to get some sleep, it would be best to avoid caffeine before bed.

Soda and caffeinated teas should be avoided as they can keep you awake, similar to coffee. 

Similar to other foods on this list, caffeinated beverages can also disrupt digestion, making it harder to get to bed.

BIG MEALS

Avoiding large meals altogether is a golden rule when it comes to getting a good night’s rest.

Falling asleep with a full stomach can be uncomfortable and digesting food through the night requires a lot of energy, said Stefanski.

Eating a large lunch and a light dinner will help to promote good rest.

WHAT TO EAT

Foods such as bananas, chickpeas, nuts and seeds, and dark chocolate will help with sleep as they are rich in magnesium, which is known for supporting sleep.

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However, it’s important to keep these meals light and allow some time before actually getting into bed.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, it might be best to cut certain foods out of your nighttime diet.

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