Worst Foods to Eat Before Bed (and What to Eat Instead)

Coffee, chocolate, green tea, guarana or energy drinks are some energetic foods and stimulants that can impair sleep, causing insomnia or difficulty falling asleep.

Most of these foods are high in caffeine, a Central Nervous System stimulant, which causes psychic stimuli by increasing the availability of glucose to the brain. To avoid interfering with nighttime sleep, stimulant or caffeine-containing foods should be avoided for at least 4 hours before going to bed.

Worst Foods To Eat Before Bed

Some of the foods that you should avoid before sleep:

• Coffee, Chocolate
• Black tea or green tea
• Soft drinks such as Coke
• Guarana powder
• Energy drinks like Red Bull, Gatorade, Fusion, TNT, FAB or Monster
• Pepper or ginger

These foods are a good option for staying awake, which helps keep the brain alert for demanding activities such as studying or working late.

The important thing is to avoid these foods close to bedtime. Excessive consumption can increase stress and anxiety. At bedtime, it is advisable to drink teas that help ensure a good night's sleep, such as Lavender or Passion fruit tea.

Lavender Tea

Lavender tea is great for treating poor digestion, stomach irritation, migraines, spasm, bronchial asthma and helps to calm down and get a good night sleep.

Ingredients: 70g of lavender flowers, 1L of boiling water.

Preparation: When the water is boiling add the lavender flowers and let it boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes before drinking.

Passion Fruit Tea

Passion tea or infusion can be prepared with dry, fresh or crushed leaves of the plant, and can be used for the treatment of insomnia, menstrual pains, tension headaches or to treat hyperactivity in children.

Ingredients: 1 teaspoon dried or crushed passion fruit or 2 teaspoons fresh leaves.

Preparation: Put the leaves in a cup and add 175ml of boiling water. Cover, let sit for 10 minutes and strain before drinking. For insomnia treatment, this tea should be drunk once a day at night.

When they should not be consumed

In some situations stimulant or caffeine foods are contraindicated:

• History of insomnia
• Excessive stress
• Anxiety problems
• Heart disease or problems

In addition, caffeinated foods can also increase the risk of stomach problems such as poor digestion, heartburn, stomach pain or excess acidity in more sensitive people.