DON’T eat bananas before bed – as they could give you nightmares
I’m a sleep expert and this is why you should NEVER eat a banana before bed – and the fruit you should have instead
If you’re in the mood for a midnight snack, experts have revealed there’s one fruit you should absolutely avoid.
Eating a banana before bed can even give you nightmares.
The yellow-skinned superfood—a favorite in smoothies and fruit salads—can overwhelm your imagination and disrupt your sleep cycles.
Instead, the professionals at sleepjunkie.com in the US suggested opting for a kiwi – which is filled with high amounts of serotonin and antioxidants.
“Because of their high magnesium content, which relaxes the muscles and calms the body, many people can benefit from their soothing effects late at night,” a spokesperson told FEMAIL.
If you’re in the mood for a midnight snack — try to avoid a banana, sleep experts have warned — because they can give you nightmares. Stock image used
“But bananas also produce a lot of melatonin, and too much melatonin can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose.”
They added that while the fruit gives you “26 percent of the recommended daily value of melatonin,” that’s exactly what can make it harder for you to sleep if you snack right before bed.
“This is because your circadian rhythms are disrupted and your imagination is triggered,” the experts advised.
In addition, other side effects of short-term use of melatonin include dizziness, headache, and agitation.
The sleep professionals continued, “Most healthy adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function optimally.
‘However, the average person only gets 1 to 2 hours of deep sleep per 8 hours of that nightly sleep and usually falls into deep sleep within an hour of falling asleep.
“That’s why eating a banana so close to falling asleep can significantly impact your valuable hours of deep sleep.”
That’s why they advise tracking your snacking and thinking it through regarding bedtime.
“If you eat too much fruit that contains melatonin, you may feel sleepy and dizzy the next day because of your restless night’s sleep.
Instead, they recommend opting for a kiwi – which is filled with high amounts of serotonin and antioxidants (stock image used)
“That’s why the timing of melatonin is key to helping you sleep.” Ideally, if you enjoy a late night snack before bed, try to leave it an hour or two before you try to sleep.”
However, eating a kiwi could be the perfect tasty bedtime ritual.
“If you have a sweet tooth late at night, kiwis are one of the best choices to improve your sleep efficiency and prevent the brain from playing tricks on you,” sleep experts advised.
“Studies show that kiwifruit can help improve sleep quality and sleep times when consumed a month or more before bed.”
This is because the tangy green fruit contains high amounts of serotonin and antioxidants – as well as vitamins such as vitamin B and folic acid – “which are often used to treat sleep disorders.”
“These vitamins can also help reset your body to its natural sleep schedule,” they added.