Before going to bed at night, some people like to eat something, so they eat whatever they want without caring, resulting in a restless night's sleep. They don't know why they can't sleep. So is it good to eat before bed at night? What should you eat?
These foods should not be eaten before bed
Eating before bed is good for the body, but remember not to eat the following foods as they will affect your sleep!
1. Nuts
Nuts contain rich unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to health.
However, both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids can easily cause acid reflux.
Dr. Kaufman suggests eating cashews, walnuts, and peanuts, among other nuts, should be minimized or avoided before bed.
2. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can cause the lower esophageal sphincter (the interface between the esophagus and stomach) to relax, making acid reflux more likely.
In addition, although drinking alcohol before bed may help you fall asleep quickly, your sleep will always remain in the light sleep stage, making it difficult to enter the deep sleep stage.
Even if you sleep for a long time after drinking, you will still feel tired and lethargic when you wake up.
3. Gas-producing foods
Some foods produce a lot of gas during digestion, causing bloating.
These include beans, cabbage, onions, corn, bananas, and so on.
Excessive bloating not only makes the stomach uncomfortable but also affects sleep.
Therefore, try to avoid eating these foods in the evening.
4. Ice cream
Ice cream contains a large amount of fat. If you eat it and then sleep, your body won't have time to burn off the fat.
All sugars give the body the wrong energy information, which is then stored and converted into fat.
In addition, research has found that eating high-sugar foods before bed can lead to nightmares.
5. Garlic
Eating garlic at night not only causes bad breath all night but also causes gastric burning.
If you have poor gastric function or are prone to acid reflux, be sure not to eat spicy foods like garlic before bed.
How to ensure a good night's sleep
1. Acupoint massage
The simplest acupoint massage for sleep aid is to massage the Yongquan acupoint, which is the sole of the foot.
The method is simple: rub your palms together until they are warm, then use your right hand to rub the sole of the left foot (the middle third of the sole), and use your left hand to rub the sole of the right foot until you feel heat.
2. Diet therapy
You can consume some calming and soothing foods, such as lily bulbs, lotus seeds, etc.
Here, we recommend a medicinal porridge called "sour jujube kernel porridge".
The method is simple: take 30-50 grams of roasted sour jujube kernels, boil them in water for 15 minutes, filter out the kernels, and drink the filtered water as porridge.
However, this sleep aid porridge may have a certain stimulation to the digestive tract, so people with poor digestion should consume it with caution.
3. Herbal pillow
When choosing an herbal pillow, it is best to consult a professional doctor for advice and choose the one that suits you best.
Generally, you should choose a soft and calming herbal pillow, such as chrysanthemum, silkworm sand, bamboo leaves, and other materials.
If the material is relatively hard, it can be processed by grinding into powder to change its texture and make it into an herbal pillow.
