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What To Eat & Avoid When You Have Nightmare Disorder?

People with nightmare disorder should be wise to choose their diet, especially at night. Food that increases the sleep should be taken at night. Some foods which do not make you sleepy should be avoided.

What To Eat When You Have Nightmare Disorder?

What To Eat When You Have Nightmare Disorder?

Choice of healthy food for improving sleep is important in cases of nightmare disorder. Various foods have a positive impact on the quality and duration of sleep. These foods have certain chemicals that help increase the level of substances required for sound sleep. Certain foods also have relaxing properties which helps in profound sleep.

Dairy Products: Consumption of warm milk is good before bedtime for a good sleep. Some dairy products are best for a good and complete sleep because the dairy product contains tryptophan which is sleep-promoting substance.

Bananas: Banana help to promote sleep because banana is an energy-boosting food. Banana is a rich source of magnesium and potassium and contains serotonin and melatonin. Magnesium and potassium work as a muscles relaxant which encourages your sleep.

Honey: Consumption of honey is good before bed. Honey stimulates the secretion of tryptophan which promotes your sleep. Honey also inhibits the activity of orexin which is responsible for your alertness.

Almonds: Almond is a good source for your good sleep. Almond is a rich source of sleep-regulating hormone such as melatonin. Almond also contains magnesium which acts as a muscles relaxant and promotes your sleep.

Oats: Oats is good for sleep promotions. Oates contains calcium, potassium magnesium, and amino acids which increases sleep-inducing hormone such as melatonin. Oats stimulates the production of insulin and maintains blood sugar naturally.

Turkey: Turkey is also a good source of tryptophan which acts as a sleep promoter. Turkey contains some protein which promotes fullness.1

Fatty Fish: Fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, salmon and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D. Omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D increase production of serotonin which promote your sleep.

What To Avoid When You Have Nightmare Disorder?

What To Avoid When You Have Nightmare Disorder?

For managing the nightmare disorder, sound sleep is a prerequisite. Various food items, if taken before bed, either does not allow you to sleep or disrupt your sleep at midnight. Following are certain food items:

Alcohol: Do not consume alcohol before 2 to 3 hours of your bedtime. Alcohol takes an effect on the chemical which triggers your sleep and making sleep difficult.

Sugary Food: Avoid sugary foods such as cookies, biscuits, cakes, and chocolates before bedtime. Chocolate and cakes contain caffeine in it which makes you keep awake.

Spicy Food: Spicy food causes difficulties in sleeping. Spicy food requires more efforts to get digested by the body. Spicy food also causes a burning sensation in the heart which may interfere with your sleep.

Bread And Pasta: Pieces of bread and pasta can cause nightmares if you consume them just before bedtime. Bread and pasta enters in body and convert in glucose and act as a sugary food.

Coffee: Do not consume coffee because it contains caffeine in it. Caffeine act as a stimulant which blocks hormone such as melatonin and serotonin, which promotes your sleep.3

Cheese Food: Cheese is not good before bedtime. Cheese is a rich source of amino acid tyramine which increases the activity of orexin which is responsible for alertness.4

Energy Drink: Do not consume too much energy drink because it can hydrate your body at night. More consumption of energy drink at night cause frequent urination.5

Fatty Foods: Do not consume too many fatty foods before bedtime. Fatty foods need more time to digest and consumption of fatty foods at night disrupts your sleep cycle.

Conclusion

Foods which have a positive effect on sleep include milk, honey, almonds, oats, and turkey meat. Foods which should be avoided by the person with nightmare disorder are spicy food, fatty food, alcohol, caffeinated food, and sugary food.

References:  

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:October 16, 2019

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