You settle into bed. Pull the blanket up to your chin and lie down safely. Your eyelids become heavy. All you want is to get some rest. You close your eyes, hoping for a restful sleep. But instead of falling asleep, you toss and turn, unable to switch off.You may have done everything right, and yet a good night’s sleep seems like a pipe dream. Why? Well, it could be something other than your bedtime habits. Perhaps that innocent snack you ate an hour ago was essentially a biological alarm clock for your brain. Your good intentions late at night sabotage your rest before you even dim the lights. UK-registered pharmacist Amir Singh has gone viral on TikTok thanks to his video in which he rates various methods that are supposedly beneficial for sleep, and viewers were stunned by one particular warning he made. According to him, one food that we think is good for sleep can actually undermine it.
Food that kills your sleep
In the video, Singh talked about one “healthy” snack that most people eat before bed. According to Dr. Singh, this snack that is thought to promote sleep may actually be sabotaging it. So what kind of snack are we talking about? Banana! Yes, you read that right. Dr. Singh said he would not recommend eating a banana before bed. Many people believe the fruit helps them sleep because of its magnesium and potassium content, but a pharmacist says it may have the opposite effect.“It actually has a lot of sugar, so it will probably help you stay awake,” he said.Bananas are trending all over health blogs as the perfect bedtime companion. But here’s an uncomfortable truth that health experts are increasingly emphasizing. Although the fruit is rich in minerals, it contains enough natural sugar to raise your blood glucose levels when your body is trying to calm down. Your pancreas doesn’t care that you chose fruit instead of cake. When you consume foods high in sugar before bed, your body mobilizes to process this energy, causing the release of glucose into the bloodstream. This metabolic activity is essentially your body’s way of hitting the “awake” button, turning your cozy bedroom into a boxing ring where you fight your own physiology.Another food that Dr. Singh advised to avoid is drinking milk before bed. Although warm milk before bed has been around for a long time, a pharmacist says it’s a terrible idea, especially for people with lactose intolerance. “Fifth, if you are lactose intolerant, this is a terrible idea. We all ate this before bed when we were kids, so you might feel a little nostalgic and it will help you sleep,” he said.
What can help you get a good night’s sleep?
Instead of continuing to take risks with questionable food choices, a more informed approach involves understanding what truly helps your sleep architecture. Simple tips can help, such as eating your last meal at least a couple of hours before bed. Keeping your bedroom temperature cool will help you sleep better. Also, avoid looking at screens at least an hour before bed. Avoid drinking too much caffeine in the hours before bed. These simple tricks can help.