Nutrition & Sleep: Foods that Affect Your Dreams
Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash
It’s interesting how some people can fully remember their dreams at the night, but for others, it’s just fragments that linger in their minds in the morning. It may be a challenge for some to get a good nights’ sleep – the kind where you actually do dream. Dreams occur during several phases of sleep, but most of the dreams that we remember happen during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase, when the brain is the most active. Research shows that what you eat before going to sleep greatly impacts your dream patterns.
On the flip side, falling asleep on a empty stomach has been shown to create more colorful dreams, largely because of the drop in blood sugar that your body goes through. As a result, night sweats and bad dreams are more frequently reported when your stomach is empty. Here are some facts about nighttime food choices and dreams:
• Eating a piece of cheese before bed is shown to promote very peaceful dreams. A small cheese snack, even 30 minutes before you hit the sack, can lead you to a very dreamy and pleasant sleep.
• If you love chocolate, bedtime may not be the best time to indulge. Chocolate is shown to have a psychoactive impact on the brain, causing enhanced dreams – both good and bad.
• Milk, due to its melatonin content, helps with long bouts of sleep and helps regulate sleep patterns over time.
• If you’re looking a nice, sound sleep, eating a dinner that contains B6 and the amino acid tryptophan are a good idea. Opt for lean fish and turkey, and you’ll most likely have great dreams – and the ability to recall them in the morning.
Source: http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness
