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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 to avoid 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, for example;
- Pepper or ginger;
These foods are a good option for staying awake, which helps to keep the brain awake to perform demanding activities such as studying or working late.
The important thing is to avoid these foods close to bedtime, so you can avoid insomnia or a bad night’s sleep. Excessive consumption can increase stress and anxiety. At bedtime, it is advisable to drink teas that help to ensure a good night’s sleep, such as Lavender, or Passion fruit tea, for example.
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. Can be prepared as follows:
Ingredients:
70 g of lavender flowers;
1 L of boiling water.
Method of preparation:
In a pan, when the water is boiling add the lavender flowers and let it boil for 5 minutes. After that time, remove from the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes, before drinking.
Passion fruit tea
Passion tea or infusion is one of the options that 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;
Method of preparation:
In a cup of tea put the dried, crushed or fresh leaves of the passion fruit and add 175 ml of boiling water. Cover, let sit for 10 minutes and strain before drinking.
For insomnia treatment this tea should be drunk 1 time a day at night.
When they should not be consumed
In some situations stimulant or caffeine foods are contraindicated, and should not be consumed:
- 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.
Click here to read: 3 Steps To Peaceful Sleep: How To Overcome Insomnia
