19. Aged, fermented and smoked meat
Similar to aged sauces, fermented or smoked meats (such as bacon, chorizo, frankfurters, pepperoni and salami) can hinder your chances of nodding off blissfully at night. These meats also contain the amino acid tyramine, which is thought to induce sleeplessness – so it’s best not to indulge in a charcuterie platter, hot dog or bacon sandwich before bed.
18. Red meat
We’re not saying you have to forgo the occasional celebratory sirloin, but devouring red meat too late at night has been linked with disrupted sleep. This protein-packed food source is difficult to digest, and lying down too soon after a heavy meal of steak or lamb will encourage your digestive system to work harder, when it should be slowing down. Cue indigestion and acid reflux – neither of which are ideal when you’re trying to drift off.
17. Eggplant
The last time you were lying awake, unable to fall asleep, it could have been baba ghanoush to blame. Healthy eggplant is delicious in a moussaka, but you might want to think twice before you eat it too late in the day. The vegetable contains the amino acid tyramine, which can work as a stimulant, switching on your brain when you really want it to switch off.