The 6 Foods & Drinks To Avoid Before Bed, According To A Dietitian

To eat a bedtime snack or not to eat a bedtime snack? That's the question. On the one hand, going to bed on an empty stomach can activate cortisol, the stress hormone. But on the other, eating certain foods too close to bedtime can disrupt your sleep, too. For some more insight on which snacks to go for—and which ones to avoid—we asked registered dietitian Julie Stefanski, M.Ed., RDN.

Nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D., once explained that "consuming 2.5 milligrams of capsaicin per meal (7.68 mg/day) has been shown to restore the energy balance in the body." Which is not exactly something you want right before your head hits the pillow.

Stefanski notes that alcohol is well known for disrupting sleep, and plenty of research1 confirms this. Not only does it interfere with REM sleep, but it can also make waking up the following morning that much more difficult.

Fried and fatty foods are also known to disrupt digestion during the night, Stefanski explains. Healthy fats like nuts and seeds or avocado, for example, are fine, but saturated fats and fried foods are best avoided.

Stefanski notes that one of the best approaches to evening eating is to try to decrease stomach acid production. Not eating too close to bedtime will help this, and of course, simply avoiding acidic foods is also a good bet. This includes everything from sugar to grains, certain dairy and meat products, and baked goods. Check out our comprehensive guide to acidic foods for more information.

Remember that coffee isn't the only caffeinated beverage to avoid before bed: Soda and caffeinated tea can keep you awake, too. Even if you think you're unaffected by caffeine, it's still a good idea to have a cutoff time during the day, she adds. Carbonated beverages, Stefanski explains, can also disrupt digestion.

Lastly, as a general rule of thumb, you should avoid eating large amounts of any food before bed, Stefanski tells mbg. Trying to fall asleep with a full belly is far from comfortable, and continuing with digestion through the night requires energy. Eating larger lunches and lighter dinners tends to help promote sleep. You may even consider time-restricted eating, which has been shown to help people sleep through the entire night.

If you're in need of a bedtime snack, don't worry; there are options that can actually be sleep-supporting rather than sleep-inhibiting.

To get your magnesium fix without risking stomach upset, you can also take mbg's sleep support+ supplement, which combines magnesium with other proven sleep enhancers like jujube and PharmaGABA® for deeper sleep and more energized mornings.*

Everybody (and every body) is different, but there are certain types of foods that tend to disrupt sleep. If you're experiencing sleep issues, try cutting the aforementioned food and beverage groups from your nightly diet. When you do reach for a bedtime snack, instead go for magnesium-rich, sleep-supporting snacks.