NEW DELHI : Many people struggle to get quality sleep at night and wonder what the reason could be. While many factors play a role, what you drink with your dinner also contributes to how well you sleep. There are certain beverages that can play havoc with digestion and keep your body active till late into the night. According to experts, here are five drinks that you should avoid with dinner for undisturbed sleep.
Alcohol
While alcohol can make you feel drowsy after a few drinks, the truth is that it interferes with your sleep. It increases the need to urinate during the night, disrupting your sleep repeatedly. It can reduce rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, increase the number of times you wake up at night, and make snoring even worse.
Coffee
Coffee may have many health benefits, but its use should be restricted to the daytime. When consumed after dinner, it can play havoc with your circadian rhythm, as caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and increases alertness in the body. According to research, caffeine should ideally be consumed at least six hours before bedtime.
Energy drinks
Energy drinks before bed can keep you awake, making them a poor choice to have with dinner. These beverages contain high amounts of caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that affect your sleep. Drinking them in the evening can increase your heart rate and cause anxiety and digestive issues, such as acid reflux.
Sugary drinks and sodas
If you are someone who likes having a soda with dinner, your sleep is likely to get affected. Sodas are loaded with caffeine and sugar, which make it harder to fall asleep. They cause blood sugar spikes and crashes and also increase bloating and stomach issues after dinner. According to research, high sugar intake at night leads to frequent sleep disturbances throughout the night.
Black or green tea
While you may think tea contains less caffeine, drinking it after dinner causes just as much disruption as coffee. Black tea and green tea contain caffeine and increase alertness. Drinking tea at night can make it harder to get deep sleep. Herbal teas are considered a better option.
