4. Fizzy drinks
It’s no secret that fizzy drinks usually come loaded with sugar, sweeteners and caffeine – and little else. All of your favorites, from Coca-Cola and Pepsi to Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew, could be causing you to stay awake until the early hours, leaving you feeling groggy (and needing a further sugar and caffeine boost) the next morning. It’s best to avoid fizzy drinks after 4pm, as it can take up to six hours for the caffeine they contain to leave the body.
3. Fatty foods
Eating foods that are high in fats, from deep-fried dishes to processed snacks, is likely to lead to a bad night’s sleep. These foods can have a number of negative effects on our bodies, including causing acid reflux, spiking blood sugar levels and prompting digestive problems. The occasional indulgence is fine, but reducing your overall intake could result in a more peaceful slumber.
2. Energy drinks
The clue is in the name here. Packed with sugars, sweeteners and caffeine, energy drinks are among the worst liquids to consume before bedtime. While they can be useful in providing a boost when you’re low on energy, they can have a negative effect on sleep if drunk too late in the day. Besides being stacked with sugars, many energy drinks also contain high levels of caffeine, which can take up to six hours to leave the body.
1. Coffee
Consuming up to 400mg of caffeine a day can have a positive effect on our bodies, increasing our alertness and concentration. However, it can take up to six hours for caffeine to leave the body, meaning that a post-4pm coffee break could have night-time repercussions. For reference, an average cup of coffee contains up to 100mg of caffeine, while a cup of black or green tea has up to 50mg. Consumed in the evening, all of these drinks can have a detrimental impact on our sleep – not just because caffeine is a stimulant, but also because it has a diuretic effect.
Liked this? Bookmark our website and share it with your friends and stay updated with the latest information related to health and travel