Patrick Oconnell
There are many beliefs surrounding the impact of cheese consumption on sleep quality. While some claim that cheese causes nightmares or vivid dreams, there is limited scientific evidence to support this. However, it is important to note that eating heavy meals or certain types of food before bed can disrupt sleep. For example, foods high in sugar, salt, caffeine, or saturated fat can negatively affect sleep quality. On the other hand, some cheeses, like cottage cheese, are high in tryptophan, calcium, and protein, which may promote better sleep. Additionally, a study found that eating cheese may be linked to a lower risk of sleep apnea. Overall, while the relationship between cheese consumption and sleep is complex and influenced by various factors, making thoughtful dietary choices before bed can help improve sleep quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese causing nightmares | No definitive link, but some anecdotal evidence suggests it may cause vivid dreams |
| Cheese causing sleep apnea | No evidence that cheese causes sleep apnea, but people who eat cheese are less likely to have it |
| Cheese as a bedtime snack | Heavy meals before bed may cause poor sleep, but cheese is high in tryptophan, which is necessary for making sleep-promoting chemicals |
| Cheese alternatives | Cherries, bananas, almonds, turkey, yoghurt, brown rice, fish |
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What You'll Learn
- Cheese may cause reflux or stomach issues for lactose-intolerant people
- Strong or aged cheese contains high levels of tyramine, which increases alertness
- Cheese may lead to weight gain, a risk factor for sleep apnea
- Cheese may cause vivid dreams or nightmares
- Cheese is high in protein, which contributes to tryptophan, a sleep-promoting chemical
Cheese may cause reflux or stomach issues for lactose-intolerant people
While cheese is a rich source of nutrients like protein, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which may promote sleep, it may also cause reflux or stomach issues for lactose-intolerant individuals.
Cheese is high in protein from whey, casein, and alpha-lactalbumin, which contribute to tryptophan, an amino acid necessary for producing sleep-regulating chemicals like serotonin and melatonin. Additionally, the calcium in cheese aids the body in utilizing tryptophan to produce melatonin, a hormone that typically increases at night to induce sleep.
However, cheese is also a source of lactose, a sugar that individuals with lactose intolerance cannot properly digest due to insufficient lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose. When lactose-intolerant individuals consume cheese or other dairy products, they may experience symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea, which can disrupt sleep.
Furthermore, heavy meals before bed, including large quantities of cheese, can lead to poor sleep quality. The body has to work harder to digest a large meal, and a full stomach can cause discomfort and elevate body temperature, making it challenging to fall asleep or maintain restful sleep.
While the link between cheese and nightmares is not supported by robust research, some people believe that cheese causes vivid dreams or nightmares. This association may be due to the presence of tyramine, an amino acid that increases alertness by stimulating the adrenal gland to release the "fight or flight" hormone. Strong or aged cheeses, such as blue cheese or mature Camembert, are particularly high in tyramine and may contribute to increased alertness if consumed close to bedtime.
In conclusion, while cheese contains nutrients that may promote sleep, it is important to consider individual lactose tolerance and consumption quantity. Excessive cheese consumption, especially close to bedtime, may cause reflux or stomach issues for lactose-intolerant individuals and potentially disrupt sleep due to increased alertness or digestive discomfort.
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Strong or aged cheese contains high levels of tyramine, which increases alertness
While cheese is generally considered a comfort food, it is actually one of the worst foods to eat before bed. Strong or aged cheese contains high levels of the amino acid tyramine, which can make us feel alert. Tyramine causes the adrenal gland to release the 'fight or flight' hormone, which increases alertness for a number of hours.
Tyramine is also found in preserved meats such as bacon, ham, and pepperoni. The release of the 'fight or flight' hormone caused by tyramine can disrupt sleep, especially if consumed four to six hours before bedtime. This is similar to the impact of caffeine, which is also best avoided before sleep. During the latter stages of sleep, caffeine consumption can cause rapid eye movement (REM) to occur more frequently, which is why you may feel groggy the next morning.
There is also some anecdotal evidence that cheese can cause vivid dreams, which may be due to its tryptophan content. Tryptophan is an amino acid that acts as a natural mood regulator and helps to synthesise the sleep hormone melatonin. While tryptophan can promote sleep, it is also often blamed for post-Thanksgiving dinner fatigue.
Cheese is also high in protein, which can contribute to a feeling of fullness that may disrupt sleep. Heavy meals before bed can cause poor sleep due to the body working harder through digestion. However, some cheeses, such as cottage cheese, are recommended as bedtime snacks because they are high in tryptophan and calcium, which helps the body produce melatonin.
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Cheese may lead to weight gain, a risk factor for sleep apnea
While some sources claim that cheese may lead to weight gain, which is a risk factor for sleep apnea, others suggest that eating cheese may lower your risk of developing sleep apnea. A study published in the journal Sleep Medicine analyzed data from 400,000 participants and found that eating cheese influenced 23 biomarkers linked to sleep apnea. However, doctors who treat sleep apnea caution that the link between cheese consumption and reduced risk of sleep apnea is more complicated. While cheese is generally considered a comfort food, strong or aged cheese, as well as preserved meats like bacon and ham, contain high levels of the amino acid tyramine, which can increase alertness and disrupt sleep. Additionally, late-night eating, especially heavy meals, can disturb sleep due to elevated body temperature and increased digestion workload.
Cheese is a rich source of protein and contains tryptophan, an amino acid necessary for producing serotonin and melatonin, which are sleep-promoting chemicals. Cottage cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan are high in tryptophan and may benefit sleep. However, heavy meals before bed can lead to poor sleep quality. Some studies suggest that cheese may cause vivid dreams or nightmares, but there is limited evidence to support this claim. The impact of cheese consumption on sleep may be influenced by individual factors such as lactose intolerance or the quantity and quality of cheese consumed.
While cheese may have sleep-promoting properties due to its tryptophan content, it is important to consider the overall diet and quantity of cheese consumed. Weight gain is a risk factor for sleep apnea, and cheese can contribute to weight gain if consumed in excess. Therefore, while cheese may have potential sleep benefits, it should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight and lower the risk of sleep apnea.
In conclusion, while cheese may have sleep-promoting properties due to its nutritional content, excessive consumption can lead to weight gain, which is a risk factor for sleep apnea. The key is to maintain a balanced diet and a healthy weight to reduce the risk of sleep apnea and promote overall health.
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Cheese may cause vivid dreams or nightmares
While there is no definitive link between eating cheese before bed and having vivid dreams or nightmares, some anecdotal evidence suggests a correlation. In a study published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology, researchers interviewed 396 college students about how food affected their dreams. They found that 17% of participants said that eating certain foods, most commonly cheese, resulted in disturbing or bizarre dreams.
The reputation of cheese for inducing vivid dreams may be due to the tradition of eating cheese with the last course of an evening meal in Europe. Eating any food late at night could affect sleep quality, and cheese is often blamed. According to sleep expert Neil Stanley, to get a good night's sleep, the body's core temperature must drop by one degree. Eating fatty or sugary foods late at night can disrupt this process, as the body needs to burn off the extra calories, creating heat. Late-night eating has been linked to elevated nighttime body temperatures, which can disturb sleep.
Cheese is high in protein from whey, casein, and alpha-lactalbumin, which contribute to tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid necessary for producing serotonin and melatonin, which are sleep-promoting chemicals. However, heavy meals before bed can lead to poor sleep, and cheese may cause reflux or stomach issues in lactose-intolerant individuals.
While the link between cheese and nightmares may not be conclusive, some people believe that cheese, especially strong or aged varieties, can cause vivid dreams due to their high levels of the amino acid tyramine. Tyramine causes the adrenal gland to release the 'fight or flight' hormone, increasing alertness for several hours.
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Cheese is high in protein, which contributes to tryptophan, a sleep-promoting chemical
While there is a common belief that cheese can cause nightmares, there is no definitive link between eating cheese and having nightmares. However, some studies have found that eating certain foods, including cheese, before bed can result in bizarre dreams.
Cheese is a rich source of protein, which contributes to tryptophan, an amino acid that is necessary for making serotonin and melatonin, sleep-promoting chemicals that naturally occur in the body. Tryptophan is also found in other protein-rich foods like meat, fish, buckwheat, oats, and tofu.
Cottage cheese, in particular, is a good source of protein and can be paired with tart cherries to promote sleep. The cherries provide a boost of melatonin, while the calcium in the cottage cheese helps the body produce more of this sleep-inducing hormone.
Other sleep-friendly snacks that are high in tryptophan include turkey deli slices, bananas, and almonds. These foods can help promote sleep by providing muscle-relaxing magnesium and regulating blood sugar, which is important for maintaining healthy sleep cycles.
While cheese may contribute to tryptophan levels, it is important to consider the overall impact of a heavy meal before bed. Eating large amounts of fatty or sugary foods late at night can disrupt sleep due to the body's increased need to burn off calories, leading to elevated body temperature and discomfort during sleep. Therefore, while cheese may provide some sleep-promoting benefits, it is best consumed in moderation as a snack rather than as part of a heavy meal before bed.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no definitive answer to this question. While some sources claim that cheese can cause nightmares and vivid dreams, there is little evidence to support this claim. However, cheese is high in protein and tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleep.
Cottage cheese and hard cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan are high in tryptophan and may improve sleep quality.
Heavy meals before bed can disrupt sleep, and some people may experience reflux or stomach issues if they are lactose intolerant.
Yes, several foods can promote better sleep, including cherries, bananas, almonds, brown rice, fish, yogurt, and turkey.
Sugary, salty, and fried foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol, can disrupt sleep and should be avoided close to bedtime.
