6 Foods to Skip Before Bed

Waking up feeling refreshed and energized to get your day started is one of the best gifts you can give yourself by getting a proper night’s sleep. The way to ensure a great sleep is monitoring what you eat, starting with these seven foods below.

Whether it’s your irregular schedule, a craving for a late night snack, or your desire to live the European lifestyle, there are some foods that you want to avoid eating before heading to bed.

1. Watermelon

Watermelon can seem like the perfect desert after a big meal. It’s light and refreshing. But while watermelon might be a great healthy treat, especially in the summertime, it is not the best fruit to eat late in the evening. Why? Watermelon has such a high water content it could result in you waking up frequently to empty your bladder. Waking up consistently can disrupt your sleep, making you feel like a zombie the next day.

2. Red Wine

I know this one is tough for many of you wine connoisseurs! However, a great pairing to your favorite dinner dishes and another glass for an added night cap, red wine may actually be the reason you have difficulty falling asleep at night. Red wine contains tyramine, an amino acid that can cause norepinephrine to be released from your brain. Norepinephrine is a stimulant so it turns your brain on instead of shutting it off. If you are going to drink your red wine, do it much earlier in the evening so you have plenty of time to wind down naturally as you’re digesting.

3. Fried Food

Say no more! Every once in a while, indulging in fried foods may be something you enjoy. However, eating greasy, heavy, fatty foods as your main meal every night can cause discomfort and be difficult to digest, making them not the best choice of food late at night. Avoiding fried foods, like chicken tenders and French fries, and perhaps swapping for lighter fare, like a grilled chicken breast and boiled potatoes can be a perfect way to still have a delicious meal and feel great!

4. Chocolate

You probably already avoid coffee and caffeinated tea before bed, but you should also be cautious of foods that contain chocolate. Since chocolate contains caffeine it could wire you up late at night, and since it is usually served with sugar (candy bars, cookies, ice cream) the mix of caffeine and sugar could really wreck your sleep. Swap your evening share of chocolate to a midday dessert!

5. Spicy Food

A sprinkle of cayenne, a splash of sriracha – these spicy seasonings may enhance the taste of your dinner but they could also make you restless in the night. Eating spicy food could cause heartburn, which may make sleeping soundly impossible. Everything in moderation is the way to go.

6. Red Meat

A steak dinner may be the ultimate American meal, but it’s actually not the best choice. High in fat, steak, just like salami, roast beef and other meats take a longer time to digest. If your body is busy digesting, it makes sleeping difficult so minimize the portion on your plate or avoid it in the evening all-together!

You and your beauty sleep are vital for you to function and feel at your best. The most important thing is that you become aware of how your body reacts to certain foods and to make new habits that will support you from there. By incorporating new habits into your routine, your body will reap the benefits – not to mention a more enjoyable evening for all!