[Sethia Soliman]

Avoid eating these common foods to score a good night sleep​

People underestimate how important getting quality sleep is every night. If you’ve ever spent a whole night tossing and turning, the next day is set to be three things — moody, cranky, sluggish. So if you’re aiming to be more efficient and productive in 2022, it’s absolutely essential to put some work into improving your sleep schedule.

If you’re struggling with getting decent sleep at night, chances are you might be overlooking your diet. Now, we all know that drinking coffee a few hours before bed can mess up your sleep pattern, but did you know that eating tomatoes and onions can wreak havoc on your beauty sleep too?

Image Credit: Fusion O.H.​

Tomatoes contain two types of acids: ‘malic’ and ‘citrus’. Both types can trigger acid reflux and digestive issues, especially to people who are prone to it. Grabbing a bite of these may cause discomfort that’s less likely to subside for a long while.

Onions, on the other hand, contain gas-producing, soluble fibres named ‘fructans’ which aren’t exactly…well-received in the small intestine. Because our bodies find these too hard to digest, it tends to bloat and send acid back up to the oesophagus.

“Onions create gas as they move through your digestive system…” The Sleep Association said.

“That gas affects the pressure within your stomach, which can send acid back up your oesophagus, especially when you’re lying down flat.

Besides watching what you eat, keeping an eye on your alcohol and caffeine intake will assist you in achieving great sleep.

It’s important to consider that caffeine is found not only in coffee but in a variety of other foods and drinks. Products like tea, fizzy drinks, chocolates, and certain pain medications may contain caffeine in them.

Lack of sleep is bad for your health and can have a big effect on you both mentally, and physically.

“After several sleepless nights, the mental effects become more serious. Your brain will fog, making it difficult to concentrate and make decisions. You'll start to feel down, and may fall asleep during the day. Your risk of injury and accidents at home, work and on the road also increases…” the NHS states.

“Studies have shown that people who sleep less than seven hours a day tend to gain more weight and have a higher risk of becoming obese than those who get seven, hours,” the NHS said.

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Maybe Sleeping Beauty was really just eating too many onions! If you want to know more about how food affects your sleep, watch the video below!

Video Credit: Mayo Clinic​

 

[CMC]

My tips for a good night's sleep - alternate between either 2 panadols or ibuprofen (helps ease night-time pains), half a glass of sherry, a cup of Higher Living brand of 'Sweet Dreams' Tea (available in tea section of any Woollies or Coles) OR a good dose of strenuous exercise at least 5 hours BEFORE bedtime (exercises at the gym, or just dancing or gardening or such but must work up a wee sweat at least!).

If all else fails, while lying in bed, try the slow count method of breathing usually done during yoga or meditations.

 

[cmtowers]

I put lavender drops on my pillow, open the window for fresh air, wear an eye mask if required and listen to soft calming music which normally makes me drift off to sleep.

 

[Donadazzle]

These 3 help me:
1. Have a cup of camomile tea before bed.
2. If you can't drift off, slowly count backwards from 100. It helps because you have to concentrate and it turns off the relentless thoughts that can keep you awake.
3. If you have a very dark room, try to keep your eyes wide open - which is very hard and you fall asleep in no time.

 

[Benjonas9385]

Thanks For sharing such an amazing informative article.