These 7 everyday foods could be secretly sabotaging your sleep tonight

Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine Surprises

• Let’s be honest: for many of us, dark chocolate is a real treat. Unfortunately, it’s also a stimulant, much like coffee. Eating dark chocolate before bed can keep you wide awake and definitely encourage insomnia. You’re much better off enjoying about 20 grams (that’s around 0.7 ounces) of dark chocolate with breakfast if you want that energy boost your body needs.
• Remember, all chocolate contains caffeine. The purer the chocolate, the higher its caffeine level. And before you think reaching for a cup of decaf coffee at night is the answer—think again.
  

  « A cup of decaf can harm your sleep just as much as regular coffee. »

Alcohol: False Friend for Sleep

• Alcoholic drinks might make you feel drowsy initially, but they don’t promote high-quality sleep. In fact, over the long run, they can disrupt the deepest phase of sleep, when key cell processes take place. Alcohol can also cause a dry mouth and make you thirsty, which could wake you up in the middle of the night. Not to mention, it may bring on some unwelcome gastrointestinal issues.

Heavy Foods Before Bed: Best to Say No

• We all deserve the occasional fried snack—nutritionists agree! But devouring a whole bag of chips right before bedtime is truly hard on your digestion. And if your evening meal wasn’t followed by a brisk walk, it’s probably best to skip these kinds of foods at night.
• Dishes centered around red meat, especially when paired with spicy sauces, dips, or lots of spices, aren’t ideal if you’re planning on heading to bed soon. Go for grilled, baked, or foil-cooked white meat instead, with just a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for flavor.

The Importance of Quality Sleep

• If insomnia becomes chronic, the impact on your health can be even more serious. When your body doesn’t recharge with the energy it needs, you’re at risk for more challenging health conditions.
• Many of us underestimate just how vital sleep really is. While we’re sleeping, our bodies tackle all sorts of complex, fundamental processes—muscle cell and tissue renewal being among the most important. To stay healthy and rebound from the barrage of daytime stimuli, we truly need deep sleep at night. It’s during those hours that we restore and regenerate, getting ready to take on a new day.

*Dietary supplements are reserved for adults only. Supplements should be used as part of a healthy lifestyle and not as substitutes for a varied and balanced diet. Read the directions before use.

The use of melatonin-based products is not recommended for people with inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or anyone engaging in activities requiring sustained alertness where drowsiness could pose a safety risk.

Taking melatonin supplements should be done under medical advice if you have epilepsy, asthma, mood or personality disorders, or if you are on medication.

Products containing melatonin are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. We advise breastfeeding women to seek medical advice before using other Valdispert® products.

Products containing melatonin are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. We advise pregnant women to seek medical advice before using other Valdispert® products.