20 Foods We Should Never Eat Before Bed

1. Chocolate

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When it comes to disruption of sleep, chocolate is a double whammy as it contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which are stimulants.  Caffeine is highly likely to keep you awake and theobromine may increase heart rate and level of alertness.  All this makes it challenging to fall asleep.

2. Carbonated Beverages

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Carbonated drinks which include not just sodas but also sparkling water, can leave you bloated and feeling gassy.  If you consume these before you retire for the night in your bed, expect to feel discomfort and having to spend time tossing and turning before you can get comfortable.

3. Spicy Foods

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It's possible that eating spicy foods under two hours before slumber time will leave you feeling somewhat tender in the stomach area.  Trying to fall asleep could be difficult due to compounds like capsaicin, found in spicy foods, which can increase your body temperature and goes towards releasing gastric acids.  A restful night is maybe something you can only dream of.

4. Coffee

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You don't need me to tell you that you shouldn't be choosing coffee as your late night relaxing drink.  It contains caffeine, making it difficult to drop off to sleep and even when you do manage to, there's a chance that you might wake up several times in the night, feeling dog tired in the morning.

5. Fried Foods

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High fat foods can be greasy and take longer to break down in your digestive system.  You may want to lie down to ease the bloating  and indigestion but this actually makes the symptoms worse.  Try sleeping propped up on a couple of pillows and remember to drink hot chocolate instead in future!

6. Tomatoes

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Tomatoes, even sweet ones, are another acidic food that may cause acid reflux.  Dishes which are tomato based such as pizza and pasta sauces should be a no-no before bed time.  The high levels of acid can trigger indigestion or heartburn and disrupt your sleep.

7. Sugary Cereals

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Many cereals are wrongly marketed as a healthy breakfast option.  The truth is that some, not all, contain a very large quantity of sugar.  As cereals are a popular food to have when you are feeling peckish in the evening, the so called healthy option can lead to rapid blood sugar spikes, making it difficult to fall asleep.

8. Beans

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A late night dinner of chilli is not on a list of recommendations if you are hoping for a restful night's sleep.  Beans, whether it be kidney beans, pinto bean or black beans, contain fiber and complex carbohydrates.  Yes, they are nutritious but they can lead to gas and bloating for some people, making you uncomfortable in bed.

9. Hot Sauce

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Hot sauce can be a bit spicy or off the scale spicy. Whichever you choose, all the sauces contain capsaicin, raising your core temperature and leaving you kicking off the duvet to try and keep cool, then putting it back on, getting annoyed because you can't sleep.

10. Alcohol

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There are some individuals that like a "hot toddy" before bed.  That's whiskey, hot water and honey.  It's supposed to help you sleep but the opposite could be the case.  Alcohol does make you tired but it has a habit of waking you up several times a night so you are less than refreshed in the morning.

11. Citrus Fruits

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Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruits are classed as being very acidic.  Consuming any of these before bed time can lead to acid reflux and heartburn.  The acid tends to irritate the oesophagus and you can feel the burn when your head touches the pillow.

12. Burgers

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Burgers tend to be very high fat when loaded with cheese and a spicy sauce.  These ingredients can feel heavy on the stomach so should be consumed earlier in the day rather than later - otherwise you run the risk of uncomfortable heartburn as you try to get to sleep.

13. Tea

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Herbal teas can be a great choice to have before bed.  If you are going for chamomile or lavender tea, then even better.  We suggest to stay clear of green and black teas as they contain caffeine which are known to disrupt sleep.  Some people are more affected than others but don't take that chance.

14. Soda

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Soda is refreshing and an ice cold one, straight from the refrigerator, can hit the spot!  This type of drink poses two issues around getting a good night's sleep.  The high sugar can lead to an energy crash and the hidden caffeine may make it more difficult to relax.

15. Red Meat

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We are all encouraged to eat less red meat for both health and sustainability reasons.  In fact, having a totally meat free day can give you extra energy and help you get to seep quicker.  This is because red meat, in particular burgers, are high in fat and can cause digestive issues when you are lying flat in bed!

16. Peppers

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Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and we are encouraged to include them in our "five a day."  A word of warning - don't wait until later in the evening to eat them.  Because peppers are acidic, they could contribute to symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn, enough to keep you awake.

17. Ice Cream

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Ice cream is great and Ben & Jerry's is the best, especially cookie dough.  Anyway, enough about me!  It is a delightful and scrummy treat but high in sugar which is certainly relevant if you are secretly working your way through a tub before you go to sleep.  You could experience a fragmented slumber.

18. Pizza

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Pizza is as much a part of American life as it is in Italy.  It's such a shame that it contains not one but two elements that could disrupt your sleep.  These are tomato sauce and cheese.  The sauce is acidic and can cause acid reflux and the cheese is a high fat food which may lead to indigestion.

19. Processed Meats

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If you read the ingredients on a pack of processed meats such as bacon, sausages and cold cuts, you can easily spot that they are sky high in sodium (salt).  A diet of these foods can make you feel thirsty for hours.  Awakening during the night to get a drink is a common occurrence.

20. Buffalo Wings

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Spicy buffalo wings - just thinking about them is making my mouth water!  Wings are a double edged sword around disruption of sleep.  As they are both spicy and also high in fat, this makes them a prime candidate for indigestion and heartburn as you lie down to sleep.

21. Candy

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Gummy bears, liquorice, hard candy ...... bring it on!  What's not to love about them? Well, we'll tell you.  Candy is basically sugar and a few other ingredients around it.  Munching a few that you keep by your bedside table before you turn in for the night will have consequences.  Sugar spikes and crashes will ensure your sleep is interrupted.

22. Energy Drinks

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Energy drinks are, of course, popular for their high caffeine and sugar content.  Whilst they may be good for a pre workout at the gym, they are one of the worst liquids to drink before bed.  When you eventually fall asleep be prepared to wake up at an unearthly hour due to the energy crash that occurs.

23. High Sugar Snacks

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There's nothing quite like home baked cookies, fresh out of the oven and still a bit gooey!  You will know when you are making them that you are including a large amount of sugar in the recipe.  This being the case, don't grab  coupe of cookies with a glass of milk before bed.  The blood sugar spikes are waiting to rear their ugly head!

24. Salty Snacks

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Salty snacks like potato chips and pretzels are delicious and many of us eat them pretty much every day.  If that is the case, stick to day time and don't consume them in the evening.  Their high sodium content can leave you waking up in the middle of the night, desperate for a drink to quench that thirst.

25. Foods With Chemicals And Additives

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Highly processed foods are literally teeming with artificial preservatives, additives and even hidden sources of caffeine.  We know these products aren't organic as pink custard is not natural!  Consumed too close to bed time can leave you unable to sleep for ages and wriggling about in frustration.

26. Large Meals

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If you haven't managed to eat much during the day, you are likely to be ravenous by the evening.  A big meal could be on the cards but think again.  A large plate of food after 8pm could force your digestive system into overdrive with all the work it has to do.  Expect indigestion and anything but a restful sleep.

27. Raw Onions

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I mean, why would you eat raw onions before bed?  Surprisingly, lots of people do.  They could be sliced in a salad or be nestled on top of that cheese burger.  Onions are renowned for being difficult to digest and the taste keeps re-appearing in your mouth due to the gas it produces. It's a nightmare!

28. Garlic

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Garlic, as you know, has a strong odor that could linger, possibly disrupting sleep if consumed in large amounts. It can cause indigestion for some, making it uncomfortable to lie down after eating it.  Your partner might not be able to sleep either because of the garlic smell breathing out of your pores.

29. Cabbage

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Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, as is cauliflower.  The compounds it contains do no harm if consumed in small amounts but anything more and you will be full of gas all night. Also, your tummy may look like it's hiding a beach ball in there as it can bloat you up excessively.  Forget a good night's sleep!

30. Broccoli

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Broccoli is similar to cabbage in that they are both cruciferous veggies.  With some people, adverse effects can occur after consuming iron rich broccoli.  It can cause bloating and gas if a large quantity is eaten.  This could well interrupt sleeping patterns because of digestive discomfort.