Andy Montoya
Blue cheese has a reputation for inducing vivid dreams or nightmares when eaten before bed. However, there is little scientific evidence to support this claim. While some studies have shown a link between cheese consumption and unusual dreams, it is important to note that eating any food late at night can disrupt sleep. Blue cheese contains tyramine, a compound that increases alertness, but this does not necessarily mean it will keep you awake if consumed close to bedtime. Overall, while blue cheese may not be the direct cause of a restless night, its reputation for doing so is well-known.
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What You'll Learn
Blue cheese can cause vivid dreams
Blue cheese has a reputation for inducing vivid dreams. While there is little scientific evidence to support this claim, some studies have found a link between eating blue cheese and experiencing vivid dreams. For example, a study conducted by the now-defunct British Cheese Board in 2005 found that participants who consumed a 3-ounce (about 20g) piece of blue cheese before bedtime reported having vivid or bizarre dreams.
It is important to note that the British Cheese Board study was not scientifically robust and was not published in a peer-reviewed journal. However, the findings have perpetuated the belief that blue cheese can indeed influence the content of our dreams.
One possible explanation for the link between blue cheese and vivid dreams is the presence of tyramine, a naturally occurring compound in cheese. Tyramine increases alertness by causing the adrenal gland to release the 'fight or flight' hormone, which can impact sleep patterns and dream intensity. Additionally, eating any food late at night can disrupt sleep quality, and cheese, especially mature or pungent varieties like blue cheese, can be difficult to digest.
Another factor to consider is the high fat and salt content of blue cheese. Consuming too much fat or salt before bed can elevate nighttime body temperature, disturb sleep, and potentially contribute to more intense dreams. However, it is worth noting that some studies suggest that while higher-energy evening meals can raise body temperature, they do not necessarily lead to poorer sleep quality.
While the evidence is mixed, it seems that blue cheese may indeed play a role in intensifying dreams. Whether this is due to the tyramine content, the difficulty of digestion, or other factors, remains to be conclusively determined. However, if you're looking for a late-night snack that won't interfere with your sleep or dreams, you may want to opt for a lower-fat, lower-salt cheese variety or choose from other sleep-promoting foods like cherries, bananas, or almonds.
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Eating late at night can disrupt sleep
The reputation of cheese as a dream-inducing food may be due to the tradition of eating it with the last course of an evening meal. Eating late at night can disrupt sleep due to the body's need to burn off the consumed calories, which creates heat and disturbs the natural drop in body temperature necessary for sleep. Late-night eating has been linked to elevated night-time core body temperature, which can disrupt sleep.
Additionally, certain foods consumed late at night can negatively impact sleep quality. Sugary foods, for example, cause blood sugar spikes and subsequent crashes during sleep, increasing cortisol levels and waking the body. Salty foods, such as crisps and salted nuts, are also detrimental to sleep, causing dehydration, water retention, and fatigue. Chocolate, which often accompanies cheese, contains caffeine and can disrupt sleep by increasing the frequency of REM sleep, leading to morning grogginess.
However, some cheeses may promote better sleep. Low-fat cheeses, such as cottage cheese, are high in tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes serotonin release, aiding relaxation and sleep. Cheshire cheese has also been associated with peaceful sleep without dreams. Bananas, almonds, and milk are other examples of foods that can help improve sleep quality due to their magnesium, muscle-relaxing, and stress-relieving properties.
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Blue cheese contains tyramine, which increases alertness
Blue cheese has a reputation for inducing vivid dreams and nightmares, but this may be due to the time of day it is often consumed, rather than its chemical composition. Eating any food late at night can affect sleep quality, and cheese is often eaten during the last course of an evening meal.
However, blue cheese does contain tyramine, an amino acid that increases alertness. Tyramine causes the adrenal gland to release the 'fight or flight' hormone, which increases alertness for several hours. This may be why some people believe blue cheese keeps you awake or causes vivid dreams.
Tyramine levels also increase when food is at room temperature, which may be why blue cheese is associated with disrupted sleep. Blue cheese is often served at room temperature, as part of a charcuterie board. Charcuterie board staples such as cured, smoked, and processed meats also contain high levels of tyramine.
While blue cheese does contain tyramine, it is also high in calcium and tryptophan. Calcium is effective in stress reduction and the stabilization of nerve fibers, allowing for relaxation. Tryptophan promotes the release of the hormone serotonin, which encourages the body to relax and is an integral part of managing the sleep cycle.
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Low-fat cheese can improve sleep quality
While cheese is often regarded as a comfort food, it is considered one of the worst foods to eat before bed. Strong or aged cheese, as well as preserved meats like bacon and ham, contains high levels of the amino acid tyramine, which increases alertness and can disrupt sleep. Eating late at night can also affect sleep quality, and cheese is often blamed for disturbing sleep due to its high fat content.
However, not all cheese is created equal, and some studies suggest that consuming low-fat cheese can improve sleep quality. Research has shown that adhering to healthy dietary patterns, including the consumption of low-fat dairy and limited full-fat dairy, is associated with a lower risk of sleep apnea. A long-term study involving 400,000 participants found that those who ate cheese had a 28% lower risk of sleep apnea, and cheese influenced 23 biomarkers linked to this sleep disorder.
It is important to note that weight gain is a risk factor for sleep apnea, and cheese can contribute to weight gain if consumed in excess. However, there are "healthy" cheeses that are higher in protein, lower in fat, and rich in nutrients and vitamins, which may be responsible for the positive association between cheese and reduced sleep apnea risk.
While the link between cheese and improved sleep quality may be coincidental, it is worth considering the potential benefits of incorporating low-fat cheese into your diet. This is especially true if you are concerned about sleep apnea, as maintaining a healthy weight is the most effective way to reduce the risk and severity of this sleep disorder.
In addition to cheese selection, the timing of your meals can also impact your sleep. Eating late at night, especially foods high in fat or sugar, can disrupt your sleep by increasing your body temperature and requiring your body to burn off those calories overnight. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid eating large meals or high-fat foods, like cheese, shortly before bedtime to optimize your sleep quality.
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Different cheeses produce different types of dreams
While cheese is often blamed for causing nightmares, the truth is that eating any food late at night could affect the quality of our sleep. Late-night eating has been linked to elevated nighttime body temperature, which can disturb our sleep.
However, some studies have shown that different types of cheese can indeed produce different types of dreams. In a 2005 study by the now-defunct British Cheese Board, participants were given a 3-ounce (about 20g) piece of cheese to eat just before bedtime. The study found that eating blue cheese causes vivid dreams, while cheddar makes people dream about celebrities. Another study found that men and women had different dream experiences after eating the same cheese. While men reported odd or obscure dreams after eating British Brie, women experienced nice, relaxing dreams.
Cheshire cheese led to the most peaceful night's sleep without any dreams at all, according to one study. Cottage cheese is also recommended as a nighttime snack by the National Sleep Foundation due to its high tryptophan content, which encourages the release of serotonin and allows for relaxation.
On the other hand, Lancashire cheese has been linked to dreams about new jobs or occupations, while Red Leicester caused nostalgic dreams often related to childhood. Stilton, a classic blue cheese, resulted in vivid and bizarre dreams, especially for female participants.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue cheese contains tyramine, a compound that causes the adrenal gland to release the 'fight or flight' hormone, which increases alertness for a number of hours. However, blue cheese also contains tryptophan, which promotes the release of the hormone serotonin, helping the body to relax. While there is no evidence that blue cheese keeps you awake, it is often associated with vivid dreams and nightmares.
Foods that contain caffeine, such as chocolate, coffee, tea, and energy drinks, can disrupt sleep patterns. Spicy foods can also keep you awake as they raise your body temperature and require more energy for digestion.
Bananas, almonds, milk, and honey are all foods that can help you sleep. These foods contain magnesium, calcium, and melatonin, which promote muscle relaxation and healthy sleeping cycles.
Eating cheese before bed can cause indigestion and insomnia. It is also often blamed for causing nightmares, although this may be because eating late at night can disrupt sleep.
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