Sleep Forum

[admin]

It's now time to focus on your diet and how it affects your sleep!

THE CHALLENGE
Stay away from heavy meals and alcohol two hours before bed.

Here's some pointers:
- Try to have regular, smaller meals throughout the day to allow your body time to digest and not work too hard at night.
- Avoid sugary foods and big portions late at night.
- Avoid alcohol – it may send you to sleep but will stop you entering REM sleep and cause a restless night.
- Avoid spicy foods and a food that contain MSG , as these foods can cause stomach trouble and heartburn.
Certain healthy foods calm your nervous system and trigger a sleep- inducing hormonal response helping you rest better at night.

We've created a list of sleep promoting foods to help you with this challenge: http://www.ahbeard.com.au/sleepwell/you-are-what-you-eat/

Let us know how you are going to improve your diet this week and help other challengers by giving us some new suggestions

[BronS]

I never realised alcohol stops you entering REM sleep and as someone who enjoys a glass or two BECAUSE it felt like it helped me sleep, I will now be avoiding it as much as possible

[purplenezz]

Alcohol is a killer of sleep for me - even after only one glass I'll wake up wide awake at 3am - hence why I try to keep alcohol to one night a week only..... I'm going to really up my fruit and vege intake and have a camomile tea before bed to help.

[debra mitchell]

I don't eat big meals but I do have supper about 10pm which consists of either toast with jam or cold meat & tomato or nutra grain.

[Imogen]

I think this week I can really focus on the other 4 challenges as I never eat after 7pm and have always maintained a diet of 2 fruits per day and 7 veggies a day so my diet is well under control allowing for more focus on my weaker points this week

[roy]

I do not know why people worry about what they eat and drink before bed.A lot of people eat and drink what they like before going to bed and have no worries about sleeping.I have about 17 schooners per day just to a least have a few hours sleep.

[steph11]

Alcohol definitely affects my sleep. I try and moderate it to 1 or 2 glasses 1-2 nights a week. We've started eating lighter dinners, vegetarian options and leaner. Fingers crossed this will further deepen sleep!

[hevyeah]

This is probably one that applies to me, cause after a big dinner i eat chips or some other snack before bed.
I'll cut back on that and see how i do.

[Mandy.Scott71]

I'm going to try the healthy foods at night as my diet is not great and it will be interesting to see if this makes a difference. Looking forward to this one

[cammy275]

The candy will be an issue for me because I always have to have something sweet after dinner. I blame my mum for that!

I should try to combine this with the love of caffine and try to satisfy my sweet tooth with a fruity caffine free herbal tea as an after dinner treat