{"id":6423,"date":"2020-01-23T01:46:59","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T06:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dreamgates\/?p=6423"},"modified":"2020-01-27T12:48:10","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T17:48:10","slug":"how-your-diet-impacts-your-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dreamgates\/2020\/01\/how-your-diet-impacts-your-sleep.html","title":{"rendered":"How Your Diet Impacts Your Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everybody knows that diet and exercise are the pillars of weight loss, but it\u2019s not quite that simple. Sleep is just as important to keep a body healthy and functioning. Not getting enough sleep can interfere with a person\u2019s ability to lose weight. At the same time, a poor diet can also affect sleep quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bad Diets Keep You Awake<\/b><\/h2>\n

Without the right balance of vitamins and minerals, the body experiences oxidative stress, inflammation, and changes in blood sugar, all of which negatively impact a person\u2019s energy levels. Eating poorly can also interfere with the hormones that help regulate sleep. All of this results in sleep deprivation, which <\/span>causes people to make poor dietary choices<\/span><\/a>. Eventually, it leads to a continuous cycle of eating poorly, sleeping poorly, and packing on the pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

To get ahead on your weight loss, it\u2019s important to get a good night\u2019s sleep. And to get a good night\u2019s sleep, you must prioritize eating right. If you find it hard to fall asleep or often wake up feeling groggy, here are four changes you can make to your diet to improve your quality of sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Eat for a Better Night\u2019s Rest<\/b><\/h2>\n

1. Skip the Bedtime Snack<\/b><\/h3>\n

It can be harder to sleep when the body\u2019s digesting food, so people should avoid eating right before bedtime. A carbohydrate or sugar-heavy snack in the evening can also interfere with sleep. If possible, don\u2019t eat or drink anything five hours before bedtime for the best sleep quality, or limit post-dinner snacks to small servings of yogurt, fresh fruit, or cereal.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Avoid Sleep-Disrupting Foods<\/b><\/h3>\n

Certain foods and products can interfere with sleep by irritating the digestive system or affecting energy levels, especially when they\u2019re consumed right before bed. Some of the <\/span>foods to avoid eating before bed<\/span><\/a> are:<\/span><\/p>\n