If there are two things that people love doing over anything else it is eating and sleeping. But what happens when those two things clash? Can the foods you eat before bed give you a bad night’s sleep? It turns out that there are foods that can ruin your sleep. Read on to find out which foods can keep you up and ruin your sleep.

A good night’s sleep can be the difference between a good morning and a bad one. But just how much does the food you eat before bed have to do with it? The answer is quite a bit, especially with certain types of foods. Below is a list of five types of foods that can ruin your sleep and an explanation of how they do so. So if you have been having trouble sleeping lately read this list and make sure that it has not been the food you have been eating that is responsible for your sleeplessness at night.

Foods with caffeine. Foods and drinks with caffeine such as chocolate and coffee are bad for sleep because caffeine is a stimulant and keeps the mind alert and awake. Because of this, it is a good idea to avoid foods that contain caffeine for several hours before you go to bed.

Spicy foods. Spicy foods such as peppers can irritate the stomach and bowels, causing discomfort or heartburn. Lying down can make the symptoms of heartburn worse. So avoid spicy foods for dinner, you will thank yourself later.

Foods high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are simple sugars found in grains, breads, and potatoes. The body burns these up quickly for a burst of energy. The energy produced by carbohydrates can keep you awake for longer, so lay off the carbohydrates before bed. This is also true for sugary foods as well. Candy, sugary drinks, and desserts can increase energy levels as well, so it is best to avoid them too.

Excessive liquids. Drinking large amounts of liquids before turning in can be detrimental to sleep. The reason for this is once the body processes the liquid it can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night for a trip to the restroom, thus interrupting your rest. So do not drink a lot of water before bed and you will be more likely to sleep through the night.

Dairy products. Dairy products can be hard for some people to digest and can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea. These can easily ruin a good night’s sleep. And even for those who do not have a problem digesting dairy, having dairy products sit in the stomach overnight undigested can cause nausea and discomfort in the morning.

So if you avoid foods with caffeine, spicy foods, foods high in carbohydrates, drinking excessive liquids, and dairy products before bed, you will stand a much better chance of sleeping through the night and waking up feeling rested and refreshed.

This is a guest post by Michelle Gordon. Michelle Gordon is a sleep enthusiast and an online publisher for the latex mattress specialist http://www.latexmattress.org. She writes articles about sleep and health.