When it comes to getting a good night sleep, having a quality mattress that’s the right firmness for your body and your sleeping style is essential; but even the best mattress in the world won’t help you get the best sleep if you don’t help yourself out, too. That’s right – your diet can have a surprising effect on how well you sleep at night, and we’re not just talking about drinking a strong cup of coffee late in the afternoon, either.
If you want to get the best sleep of your life, in addition to an Amore Beds mattress, find out below how to get a good night sleep by avoiding these food and drinks.
Burgers and Fries
You already know that fatty, greasy foods like hamburgers and French fries can wreak havoc on your waist line and your cardiovascular health, but did you know that they can also affect how well you sleep at night, especially if you eat them later in the evening?
Basically, when you eat a big, heavy meal with a lot of grease and fat, it triggers your body’s digestive processes. As a result, you may have trouble falling asleep, or you may fall asleep right away, and then wake up again when your body has finished digesting that fatty food. Not only that, but eating this kind of meal late in the day is a sure-fire way to end up going to the bathroom one or more times in the middle of the night, further disrupting your sleep.
Alcoholic Beverages
You might think that a nightcap will make you fall asleep faster, but it won’t help you rest. Though you may find yourself snoozing after a drink or two, once your body has digested the alcohol, you’ll likely find yourself wide awake again. Furthermore, alcohol is a strong diuretic and can lead to dehydration, headaches, trips to the bathroom, and poor sleep.
If you’re going to indulge, it’s best to do it earlier in the evening and wait between four and six hours before you go to bed. That way your body will have already digested the alcohol, and you’ll be more likely to get a good night’s sleep.
Hidden Caffeine
Now, as we mentioned earlier, you already know to avoid grabbing a large latté with an extra shot of espresso after 5:00 PM if you want to be in bed and restfully sleeping by 10:00. However, you may not know that some of your favorite treats have caffeine hidden in them.
For example, if you’ve ever wondered why you couldn’t get to sleep after drinking a nice, relaxing cup of hot cocoa, it’s because chocolate actually contains caffeine. Many teas and even decaf coffee have some trace amounts of caffeine, as well, so you might want to skip these and drink a glass of milk instead if you’re headed to bed soon.
On a side note, if you have a headache at night, you may be tempted to pop a couple of aspirin tablets, but look carefully at your chosen anti-inflammatory drugs. A lot of them have caffeine, as it can have a positive effect on some headaches and other inflammations. Unfortunately, it won’t have a good effect on your sleep, so steer clear.
If you want to get a great night’s sleep every night, we recommend drinking a warm glass of milk, snacking on some healthy carbohydrates (like fruits, vegetables, or whole grains), and avoiding these sleep-deterrent foods and beverages. Add this healthy habit to sleeping on an Amore Beds mattress, and you’ll be sleeping like a baby and waking up refreshed and ready to go every morning. Try out one of these mattresses today to see the difference!
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-sleep-foods
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-get-good-nights-sleep
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20628881,00.html