What you eat and when you eat it can dramatically affect the quality of your sleep. If you find that you are having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, then one or more of these foods could be the culprit. Below are 9 foods you should avoid eating before bed so that you can sleep more soundly and wake more rested.

Celery Forgo celery for up to 90 minutes before bed if you want to avoid frequent trips to the restroom. Foods like celery, watermelon and cucumbers contain a high water content and serve as natural diuretics.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain the amino acid, tyramine, which “triggers the brain to release norepinephrine, a stimulant that boosts brain activity and delays sleep.” Avoid eating tomatoes and other tyramine-rich foods like soy sauce, eggplant, red wine and aged cheeses after dinner.

Cheese Pizza

Because cheese pizza is high in fat, it takes longer for the body to digest and can cause discomfort that interferes with sleep. Avoid eating pizza and other fatty foods for up to 3 hours before bedtime.

Alcohol Although a post-dinner cocktail or glass of wine may help you fall asleep quicker, they do disrupt rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Lack of quality REM sleep can lead to declines in memory, concentration and motor skills. Allow 2 to 4 hours between your evening cocktail and bedtime.

Black Bean Chili This dish can seriously sabotage your sleep by causing stomach-rumbling gas pains. If you are craving a big bowl of chili, eat it for lunch instead of dinner.

Dark Chocolate Enjoying a small piece of dark chocolate daily can help keep your heart healthy, but just make sure not to eat it right before bed. Dark chocolate contains caffeine, and if you are caffeine-sensitive then you may find yourself staring at the ceiling rather than snoozing peacefully. Avoid nibbling on dark chocolate for 4 to 6 hours before bed.

Spicy Tacos Pouring a little hot sauce on your taco may delight your taste buds, but it will also likely give you a bad case of heartburn if you eat in within 3 hours of bedtime.

Steak High protein foods like steak are slow to digest and can interfere with some quality zzz’s. If you have a hankering for steak, eat it for lunch or at least 3 hours before you turn in for the night.

Broccoli Broccoli is packed with nutrition, but its slow-to-digest fiber will keep your body working hard throughout the evening. Broccoli also contains an indigestible sugar that will produce uncomfortable gas. To ensure a restful night’s sleep, eat broccoli for lunch instead of dinner.

As we age, our sleep patterns change. Older adults tend to have more difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep than their younger selves. Quality sleep, however, is essential to our physical health and mental well-being at any age. For more information on common causes for sleep disturbance, you can purchase the sixth book in our award-winning senior wellness book series, The Senior Sleep Solution. This book explores the common cases of chronic sleep disturbance and provides practical guidance for seniors and caregivers alike on improving sleep quality and reducing sleep disruption. The strategies presented in The Senior Sleep Solution are based on well-researched and easily applied methods and include specific steps for seniors with dementia and various sleep disorders. Armed

with the knowledge, families can be proactive about achieving the ever important good night’s rest.

For more helpful tips, visit Home Care Assistance of West Texas. HCA is “Changing the Way the World Ages”. Call us today at (432)695-6489 to set up a Free In-Home Care Assessment and learn more about our services.