We’ve all been there: we’re sat down after dinner, children are in bed and your tummy starts rumbling. You’re looking for something satisfying to silence your hunger pangs and help you fall into a cozy, restful slumber. Or maybe it’s been a late night with a few drinks with friends and your late-night cravings get the best of you.
Before you chow down, you should know that there are actually some foods that disrupt sleep pretty badly that you’ll want to stay away from. In addition to tacking on extra calories at the end of your day—which can derail any weight loss efforts, eating the wrong food before bed can lead to indigestion and a night of tossing and turning from discomfort.
Sleep is an important aid in maintaining and losing weight because it’s believed to help regulate two important hormones related to hunger, ghrelin and leptin. Several studies have even unveiled an association between obesity and shorter sleep duration. Essentially, those who sleep less are more likely to consume more calories during the day than those who sleep a sufficient amount each night. Eating late at night could disrupt your sleep cycle, causing you to lose hours that are vital to your health.
What’s the one food you should never eat before going to sleep?
Pizza!!!!! Specifically, pepperoni pizza. And if you love to add peppers or crushed red pepper flakes on your pizza, it’s even worse.
How and why does pizza disrupt sleep?
For people who already have a sensitive GI tract, they know that no slice of pizza is complete without heartburn medication and a hefty supply of antacids. The spiciness of the pepperoni and the acid in the tomato sauce can lead to a sour stomach, or worse.
“The combination of fat in the cheese and the acid in the tomato sauce can have a negative impact on your sleep quality,” Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, has explained to us. “High-acid foods can trigger acid reflux, especially when eaten close to bedtime. Even if you don’t feel ‘heartburn,’ this reflux can cause you to awaken partially from sleep and leave you tired the next day.”
In addition to heartburn, the high-fat content in the cheese can give you indigestion, which is an overall uncomfortable feeling. Spending the night tossing and turning, instead of actually sleeping will undoubtedly lead to a poor night’s sleep. It’s best to avoid these triggers altogether before bed. There’s another component to cheese that may be keeping you up at night, too.
Sure, cheese is delicious, which is why pizza is one of our favourite foods. But it can also put stress on your digestive system (mainly, your bowel movements) if you’re even moderately intolerant to lactose. About 65 percent of adults are lactose intolerant, the National Institutes of Health estimates. As people get older, they tend to lose the enzymes that help digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy. Because the bacteria in your colon loves to feed on these sugars, this can result in uncomfortable GI issues such as bloating, gas, and diarrhoea.
So it’s no surprise that eating a lot of dairy but especially eating pizza right before bed could potentially disrupt your sleep. Skip the pizza before bed so you can get longer, more restful sleep.
If you still struggle from a lack of sleep and you don’t think food is the trigger...read on..there is a solution!
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Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Today say to yourself over and over “I am ready to make a change to ensure I have a restful night's sleep” and know you’re worth it!
Yours in health and happiness,
Beth Cook
