You wake up before the dawn, grab a cup of coffee, and open your Bible. Too soon it’s time to get the kids up, dress and feed them, then get them to the bus stop on time for school. Perhaps you have to drop another child at daycare and head to work or maybe you’re a stay at home parent, with never ending chores and errands to run. No matter what your schedule, you are busy!
In the afternoon, it’s snack time, homework, sports, or other extracurricular activities. You have to plan dinner in there somewhere, and then it is time for baths, stories and bedtime. By then, you are tired and just want to relax. Well, not yet. First you must finish the dishes, sign the kids’ papers for school and straighten up the house again. There are bills to pay, emails to answer, and you have to Facebook.
You are exhausted and know you need to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Without that sleep, you will have a hard time getting through the next day. Without adequate rest you will be short with your kids and irritated with your spouse. You slip into bed and try to doze off, but… you can’t sleep. Could it be something you ate? It could be. Your nutrient choices do have an effect on your sleep.
Sleep deprivation can seriously impair your health, leaving your body more likely to develop stress-related disorders. These conditions may include weight gain, stomach ulcers, heart disease, constipation, and depression. A full night’s rest is a true gift from the Lord. It allows your body to heal, your immune system to grow stronger, and your ability to think clearly and perform optimally to increase. The proper amount of rest keeps you looking and feeling younger.
So, you realize that sleep is important but what are the foods that contribute to insomnia?
Here are 5 Foods that can keep you awake:
Caffeine is the most obvious. Not just coffee, but also many teas, soda, and energy drinks. Beware of foods containing coffee beans, like ice cream. Some diet pills and medications also contain caffeine, so check your labels.
Alcohol is a depressant and does make you drowsy, but the effect does not last. Often you will wake up several hours later unable to go back to sleep. In addition, alcohol prevents crucial stages of sleep where your body does most of its healing.
Spicy foods can cause an upset stomach which may awaken you. In addition, studies have shown that spicy foods elevate body temperature for several hours after eaten and disrupt sleep cycles.
High sugar foods and foods with refined carbohydrates cause a spike in blood sugar which inhibits sleep. Later, when blood sugar levels drop too low you may awake and be unable to fall back to sleep.
Tyramine is an amino acid that causes the release of a brain stimulant that can keep you awake. Aged, pickled, and fermented foods are high in tyramine. Other examples include bacon, sausage, aged cheese, smoked meats, fish, and soy.
If you feel that sleep deprivation is something that may be an issue, nutrition is a great place to start. Eat your dinner several hours before bedtime and stay away from the foods listed above.
