Best Foods to Eat – and Those Not to Eat – Before Bed

There is a lot of talk out there surrounding the foods we should and shouldn’t be eating.

You can find all kinds of information about the food to eat to fuel a run, those to eat to build up antioxidants and even best foods to eat to lose weight.

But did you also know that there are certain foods you should eat before bed, and those that should also be avoided, to get the best night’s sleep?

Take a look at some foods you may want to consider adding to your diet – or cutting out – in order to be better rested.

Worst Foods to Eat Before Bedtime

In the evening hours (about 4-5 hours) before you should be heading to bed, there are a few foods you will want to completely avoid. Why?

These are the foods that may keep you awake and can actually harm your health while you attempt to rest.

These are the worst foods to eat before bed time:

1) Processed food

2) Spicy dishes

3) Caffeine

4) Breakfast cereal

In general, these foods in moderation are not that bad for your health.

However, when eaten before bedtime, they can really interrupt your sleep cycle and undo the healthy habits you have worked hard at all day long.

For example, if you consume large amounts of caffeine 3-6 hours before bedtime, you may have interrupted sleep.

You will have a harder time getting to sleep, plus, it will be more difficult for your body to get into a good REM cycle.

If you do not get a deep, peaceful sleep for at least 7-8 hours every night, you will be fatigued.

So stop drinking that latte or large soda by mid-afternoon if you want a good night’s sleep.

Talking about worst foods to eat – let’s look at spicy food, too.

You may enjoy a good Mexican or Indian dish during the day, but if you eat foods with lots of spice right before bedtime, you may experience heartburn or an upset stomach.

Even if your body processes spicy foods just fine during the day, you may run into some problems when you eat these foods in the evening.

Best Foods to Eat Before Bedtime

Now, let’s look at the bright side.

You do not have to stop eating at lunch time in order to experience a peaceful night’s rest.

There are still plenty of best foods to eat, even up to the minute before getting into bed, that will help you sleep well and actually help improve your health and mood.

Some of the best foods to eat are:

1) Anything low fat
2) Fruits
3) Vegetables
4) Peanut butter
5) Oatmeal

If you are the type that likes to eat in the evening and even have a quick snack before calling it a night, consider healthier, more filling items to help you sleep better.

If you wake up hungry, you may need to eat before going to bed.

If this is the case, try peanut butter or oatmeal as a bedtime snack.

The protein in the peanut butter and the fiber in the oatmeal will actually help fill you up, which won’t leave you hungry a couple of hours after you have gone to bed.

Have a small bowl of oatmeal with berries or have celery sticks with peanut butter to keep your tummy happy.

You can also stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables of all kinds in the evening.

Most fresh fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, which keeps you full longer.

Plus, they are low in calories so you won’t be packing on the pounds as you sleep.

Try carrots, broccoli, apples or blueberries in the evening.

If you go the fruit route, try to avoid citrus fruits, like oranges, as the acid can actually irritate your throat as you sleep.

Feel free to eat in the evening hours, but just watch what you actually ingest.

You will feel more rested and ready for a new day when you watch what you eat before bedtime.

What is your expert opinion on worst foods to eat?

Can you add more best foods to eat before bed to our list?

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Article by Ryan Avila

Ryan loves food and when not in the kitchen or training for a triathlon, he is a content writer for Your Local Security.

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