Your diet plays an important role in virtually every aspect of your health, from the obvious areas like your weight and your gut health to the things you may not think of as much—including the quality of your sleep. As it turns out, eating the wrong foods before bed could make it difficult for you not only to fall asleep but also to sleep through the night.
To discover one of the worst types of food that could be holding you back from the restful sleep you deserve, we spoke to Trista Best, registered dietitian for Balance One Supplements. She told us that high-fat foods are some of the biggest culprits of poor sleep. Learn more below!
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High-fat foods
As tempting as a greasy late-night snack can be, Best says that eating high-fat foods before bed is one of the worst mistakes you can make if you want to sleep through the night. This is due to several factors. For starters, they can throw your digestive system for a loop. "High-fat foods can take longer to digest, which can cause discomfort and interfere with sleep," she warns. "When you eat a meal high in fat, your body has to work harder to break it down and absorb the nutrients. This can lead to digestive discomfort, such as bloating, gas, or heartburn, which can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep." Yikes!
Then there's the issue of hormones, which can essentially make or break your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Best explains that "high-fat foods can trigger the production of the hormone cholecystokinin, which can delay the emptying of the stomach and cause feelings of fullness or discomfort."
Your blood sugar is another important factor in the quality of your sleep. Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly) high-fat foods can also disrupt this. "Consuming high-fat foods before bed
can also cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which can lead to a release of stress hormones and disrupt sleep," Best warns.
All in all, resisting your cravings and steering clear of anything very fattening before bed is the best way to go if you want to get the most restful sleep possible. "To promote restful sleep, it's best to avoid eating heavy or rich meals for at least two to three hours before bed and focus on lighter, nutrient-dense options," Best concludes.
