Waking up drenched in sweat? The food that you ate close to bedtime might be to blame! While night sweats can be a symptom of a medical condition, it can’t be denied that lifestyle factors, such as diet, can play a role. Some foods can raise your body temperature and trigger excessive sweating even at nighttime. If night sweats are keeping you up, here are 10 foods to avoid before bed.
10. Spicy Foods
You might be the biggest fan of Spicy Food but try to avoid them if you’re a few hours away from bedtime. Why? It’s a trigger for night sweats to disrupt your sleep. Spicy Foods contain chili peppers which have a compound called capsaicin. This capsaicin gives chili peppers heat, which stimulates thermoregulation in your body that causes sweat.
9. Caffeine
It’s a well-known idea to never consume Caffeine at nighttime unless you’re pulling an all-nighter. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase your heart rate, which may raise your body temperature. It can also stimulate your nervous system while boosting your energy, contributing to excessive sweating.
8. Sugary Snacks
Sugar sweats are a real thing, especially if you’ve consumed too much before bed. Simple carbohydrates that are found in processed foods are to blame. It’s time to put away high-sugar snacks like the baked goods you’re carrying. Why? Your snack might cause rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar levels that trigger your hormonal responses.
7. Hot Beverages
It’s a pretty common habit that we consume warm beverages before going to bed, but make sure they stay at that temperature. If your drink becomes too hot, it may raise the temperature in your body, which leads you to sweat. Yup, it’s time to say goodbye to your hot cocoa or a hot glass of milk to avoid night sweats.
6. Citrus Fruits
While Oranges may be a healthy snack, consuming them a few hours before bedtime may not be ideal. Why? It’s the night sweats that come to attack. A Citrus Fruit’s high acidity may possibly cause acid reflux at night, which, of course, leads to sweating.
5. Chocolates
While it’s been said to avoid sugar before bedtime, Chocolate is another reason why you should stay away from it. Chocolate has stimulants called caffeine and theobromine, which may increase your heart rate and body temperature, contributing to sweating at nighttime.
4. Large Meals Before Bed
Avoid having a huge feast at night, especially when you’re a few hours away from your bedtime. When your body digests a large meal, it requires a lot of energy as it releases metabolic heat production. All of these happening inside your body as you sleep lead to sweating.
3. Foods High in Sodium
When you consume a lot of food that is high in sodium, it may lead to fluid retention. Your body may work as you sleep to regulate the fluid balance. This leads to an increase in metabolic activity, which causes sweating. Foods that are high in sodium include a bag of chips and canned soup.
2. Fermented Foods
You have to be aware of your stomach’s sensitivity when it comes to food. Some people who consume Fermented Foods, like kimchi and aged cheeses, experience night sweats. They’re likely due to the Fermented items’ active cultures and biogenic amines that cause increased body temperature in sensitive individuals.
1. Foods With Sulfite
Foods that contain sulfite are processed foods and alc*h*lic beverages. It can also be found in dried fruit packs. Like Fermented Foods, some people tend to be sensitive to sulfite. Also, sulfites trigger vasodilation or widening of blood vessels. It leads to the feeling of warmth in your skin, potentially triggering sweating.