Struggle to slip into a deep slumber? It may be because you've eaten THIS
EXPERT warns GETTING a good night's sleep is one of the most important things for our overall health and wellbeing.
These are the foods that could be keeping you up at night
In our time-poor society, sleep is often the first thing to be sacrificed in the name of work, family and social commitments.
Experts estimate over one third of Brits are sleeping less than six hours a night, less than the standard seven - eight hours recommended.
One that often gets overlooked, however, is diet.
The food you eat before you hit the hay can have a significant impact on your shut-eye.
Here are some of the top foods to avoid at night if you want a good sleep.
Meat-heavy meals for dinner are a bad idea
Dark chocolate The rich treat is a far healthier alternative to milk or white chocolate, but dark chocolate is also high in two of sleep's worst nemesis.
Dark chocolate is a natural source of stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine, an alkaloid of the cacao plant which gives the treat that bitter taste.
These elements charge up your nervous system, which can keep you tossing and turning for hours.
Meat-heavy meals While a bacon cheeseburger or crispy chicken fillet may seem an easy and delicious choice for dinner, experts say consuming these before bed is a one-way ticket to a restless night.
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Stay away from dark chocolate if you want to be get a good nights' sleep
According to MD Louise Chang of WebMD, bacon and beef patties often contain a high amount of fat, which stimulates the production of stomach acid and can in turn cause heartburn.
Chicken, while a healthy lean mean option, is very high in protein, which can slow down digestion and keep your body working hard to produce food.
A sure-fire way to keep you up throughout the night.
Spicy food This won't come as a surprise to many who have already experienced the late-night woes after eating a spicy meal.
Those who sleep less than five hours a day are more prone to reach out for sugary drinks
While tempting and delicious, a hot curry can cause heartburn a variety of stomach-plaguing issues when you lay down for the night.
It can also significantly raise your body temperature, according to experts.
A study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology found the addition of Tabasco sauce at dinner could significantly disturb sleep.
Spicy foods should not be consumed as they will affect your sleep
There are foods which enhance your time in the land of nod.
Experts say cherries, fish and chickpeas are among the sleep-friendly foods to have before bed.
Recently, experts found those who regularly slept five or fewer hours per night consumed significantly more sugary drinks, increasing their risk of diabetes.