Chocolate for pudding, steak and chilli… the surprising foods that could be sabotaging your sleep

WE all know how important sleep is to our health, but certain foods can actually hinder our ability to get a decent amount of shut-eye.

If you’re struggling to get a decent night’s kip, it could be down to your diet.

Here are six foods that may be contributing to restless nights…

Night-time wine

Plenty of us will be guilty of this, but if you’re partial to a glass (or two) of wine before bed, you could actually be setting yourself up for a fail when it comes to getting good quality sleep.

A boozy beverage might help to put you to sleep, but it will really hinder how ‘good’ that sleep is.

This is because while alcohol can put you to sleep, it becomes a stimulant as it leaves our system – meaning you will likely wake up in the middle of the night.

Steak

Fatty, protein rich foods such as steak take a while to digest - so may seriously disrupt our Circadian rhythm if eaten too close to bedtime.

What's more, high-fat, high-protein diets in general have been linked to sleep apnea - which can leave you extra tired and irritable.

Broccoli

Eating slow-to-digest, fibre rich veggies like broccoli too close to bedtime can keep your body working well into the night, even while you’re trying to get some sleep.

Chilli

Chilli rings major alarm bells when it comes to eating it before bed. The hot, spicy nature of the dish combined with tummy disgruntling beans makes for a nightmare when it comes to getting a decent snooze.

Late night, heavy dinners

Aim to eat earlier if you want a decent amount of sleep.

Eating heavy dinners late in the evening mean our bodies focus energy on digesting the food - rather than relaxing completely.

Caffeine after 12pm

We all probably know it’s not wise to drink a coffee near bedtime – but any time after 12pm could actually be keeping us up.

This is because caffeine has the ability to stay in our system for a very long time and its stimulating effects can last up to 12 hours.

Chocolate

A chocolate treat might sound the perfect after-dinner indulgence – but it’s time to ditch it if you want a good night’s rest.

This is because chocolate also contains caffeine, so maybe try a different pudding instead.

Protein powders

You may think you’re being healthy and going for a ‘light’ option with that protein shake, but it may actually be ruining your kip.
Make sure you check the label on your favourite brand as some protein powders have added vitamins and minerals which may lead to an unwanted energy surge if taken before bed.
You should be particularly wary of added B vitamins - which can pep you up and make it hard to get to sleep.

Water

While it is wise to stay hydrated, drinking too much water in the evening will have you running to the loo during the night – ruining your sleep.

Try to drink more water throughout the day to combat this.

This will leave you feeling less parched in the evening, and less likely to gulp down too much liquid before bed.