I’m sure you have heard hundreds of personal theories about whether eating a few hours before bed is okay or will negatively affect your sleep. These theories can get overwhelming and confusing after a while, so we are going to try and simplify them to help you determine the truth. To be honest, there is no universal answer on this matter because everyone is different. The easiest answer we could give you here is to listen to your body and do what feels right. If eating before bed helps you sleep, then eat. If it makes you feel worse, then don’t.
The best healthy foods to eat before bed are a banana or a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter. Both of these snacks are high in essential vitamins and proteins. Some other foods known to induce sleepiness, says the National Sleep Foundation, are ones that contain tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid similar to serotonin. Dairy products such as low-fat milk or yogurt as well as turkey, beans, and potatoes with the skin intact can all be a great source of tryptophan.
The worst trigger foods and ones you should stay away from at night, the National Sleep Foundation says, are those high in acidity, caffeinated treats, spicy foods, fatty foods, and alcohol. All of these trigger foods can cause you to stay up later, induce cravings, upset your stomach and even cause heartburn. Heartburn is one of the most common side effects of food that causes us to stay up late in discomfort.
So, with all that being said, it is not whether you should or shouldn’t eat before bed. But rather it is what you eat that is more important for a good night's sleep.