5 foods you should never eat before bed

EATING the wrong foods before bed can keep you awake for hours and make you wake up feeling lethargic.
Here are five of the foods to avoid if you want a good night's sleep.

1. Red meat

Red meat prevents sleep Getty

Red meat takes a long time to digest and can cause discomfort and cramps.
Eating it before you go to sleep disrupts your rest as your body stays alert and attempts to break the protein down.

2. Spicy food

Hot chilli can cause cramps Getty

When you eat spicy foods, your stomach produces more stomach acid, which can cause heartburn and bloating.
This irritation can prevent an easy night’s sleep.

3. Vegetables

Celery causes more nightly toilet trips Getty

The majority of vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, are high in insoluable fibre which moves slowly through your digestive system. Celery is an unwise choice because it's very hydrating and a natural diuretic, making you more likely to need the toilet in the middle of the night.

4. Sugary food and drink

Sugar can aggravate your tum Getty

Food and drink that are packed with sugar are bad for your teeth and contain chemicals that can aggravate your gastrointestinal tract.

The sugary and caffeine-fuelled content stops you from getting off to sleep and makes you more likely to feel sluggish and lethargic when you wake up the next morning.

5. Fried food

Fatty and fried foods take hours to digest Getty

Fried foods bloat your body and take hours to digest.

Eating them before bed can result in poor sleep quality because they cause stomach pains, cramps, and acid reflux.

....and here are some you can eat

It's not an old wives' tale, milk really does help you sleep! Getty

It’s important not to go to bed hungry as cravings could wake you up in the night.

To prevent nighttime hunger pangs without disrupting your sleep, look for foods that contain dairy.

These products are rich in amino acid tryptophan and contain sleep-inducing substance melatonin.

Cherry juice also includes melatonin - so try to drink a glass before bed.