Trouble sleeping? Food to stay away from and the surprising fruit & veg that can cause insomnia

Virgin Radio

2 Feb 2022, 15:56

Do you spend your nights tossing and turning and thinking about your taxes? You're not alone. Well, you may be surprised to find out that there are things other than caffeine and sugar which screw up your sleep.

The shocking dose-decreasing culprit? The humble tomato. Why? Well, the diet staple can cause acid reflux and problems with digestion which will decrease your chance of duvet dreams.

Number two on the hit list is the little old onion who can also mess with your digestive system.

The Sleep Association told The Sun: "Onions create gas as they move through your digestive system.

"That gas affects the pressure within your stomach, which can send acid back up your oesophagus, especially when you’re lying down flat.

"Sadly, both raw and grilled onions have this effect."

Gas? Us? Never!

Of course, having a booze-up before bed isn't the greatest idea nor is necking any caffeine, which is also found in lots of other foods including tea, coffee, fizzy drinks, chocolate and even some pain killers.

Sleep isn't just important for mental health, it's also key to your physical wellbeing too.

"Studies have shown that people who sleep less than 7 hours a day tend to gain more weight and have a higher risk of becoming obese than those who get 7 hours," the NHS said.

“It's believed to be because sleep-deprived people have reduced levels of leptin (the chemical that makes you feel full) and increased levels of ghrelin (the hunger-stimulating hormone).”