It might be time to forgo that pre-bed bowl of sugary cereal or late-night drive-thru run if you want a good night’s sleep. Multiple factors prevent us from sinking into a deep slumber at night – and eating certain foods could be one of them. While there are a few habits you can get into that’ll set you up for a decent doze (such as eating early and eating light), avoiding the following foods is a surefire way to improve your chances of a restful night.
We’ve based our ranking on each food’s effects on sleep, and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
31. Popcorn
Plain popcorn is a tasty, healthy snack – but you could have trouble sleeping if you add any flavorings to your freshly popped corn. Whether you like it sweet, salty or buttery, flavoring your popcorn usually involves adding extra fat, sugar and salt, all of which can cause problems. Spiked blood sugar, dehydration and stomach discomfort are among the issues you could face.
30. Fermented sauces
Like other aged foods, fermented sauces – including soy sauce, fish sauce and teriyaki sauce – contain high levels of the amino acid tyramine, which boosts production of the brain stimulant norepinephrine, causing alertness. Not only that, but tyramine is also thought to be the culprit behind migraines. While they’re undoubtedly delicious and add a depth of rich umami flavor to meals, you should cut down your intake (or simply avoid them too close to bedtime) to ensure you have a restful night.
29. Celery
With barely any calories, celery is a healthy snack to nibble on during the day. There’s just one problem that makes it an unwise choice before bed – and that’s its high water content. Though it’s perfect for helping you stay hydrated at other times, it could have you getting up in the night to relieve yourself, disrupting your sleep. So, stay away from the crunchy stuff if you want to be under the covers until morning.
