5 Of The Worst Foods To Eat Before Bed

Eating before bed isn't a great idea if you're hoping for a great night's sleep. Firstly, the food sits on your stomach making it hard to go to sleep - but if you're trying to lose weight the food you consume stores as fat as it isn't required as energy!

Unfortunately, sometimes it's impossible to turn down a late-night snack. We're only human after all, so if you do need to have those late-night munchies here are the top 5 foods to avoid for a peaceful night sleep... your waistline will thank you too!

Chocolate

Chocolate is a go-to late-night snack. Unfortunately, this sweet treat contains caffeine, which stimulates your nervous system, keeping you awake.

People tend to go for dark chocolate as its lower in sugar and has more antioxidants, but it also has a higher amount of caffeine so it's best to save dark chocolate for an afternoon snack.

Cheeseburgers

A cheeseburger every now and then is a great treat meal, but a terrible bedtime treat.

The excessive amount of fat can block your blood flow, which makes sleeping much more difficult. The fat also won't be converted to energy, which means it will be stored.

Dried fruit

Fresh fruit is fine to have late at night, but dried fruit is high in sugar and fibre, both of which will lead to a night of restless sleep.

Fibre can also leave you gassy and bloated, which is the last thing you want before bed.

Chips

Chips are another go-to late-night snack. Cracking open a packet in front of the tv may sound great, but recent psychological studies have found that greasy foods like this lead to nightmares, really.

Avoid chips and avoid the emotionally draining nightmares that accompany them.

Cereal

Most packaged cereals these days should be placed in the lolly aisle.

Packed full of sugar, snacking on your favourite cereals stimulates your nervous system, leaving you alert and awake.