1. Preserved and smoked meats. Slap
your hand away when it reaches to make a ham sandwich as an evening snack. Ham,
bacon, sausages, and smoked meats contain high levels of the amino acid Tyra
mine, which triggers the brain to release norepinephrine, a brain stimulant
that makes us feel alert and wired.
2. Chocolate. Love
an evening cup of cocoa? That sundae in front of the TV? Be careful of
chocolate in all its disguises. Many people are increasingly sensitive to
caffeine as they get older, and even the little chocolate chunks in chocolate chip
ice cream could zap you just enough to prevent ZZZZs. Chocolate also contains
tyrosine, a stimulating amino acid.
3. Energy drinks. Red
Bull and other energy drinks are high in caffeine as well as the amino acid
taurine, which boosts alertness and adrenaline. Recent studies have shown that
even if you drink energy drinks early in the day, the combined high dosage of
taurine and caffeine can make it hard to sleep, or to sleep well, later on.
4. Tomato sauce, chili, pizza,
and spicy foods. Digestive disturbances are a
common source of sleep problems, but many people fail to make the connection.
Acidic and spicy foods can cause reflux, heartburn, and other symptoms that
interrupt sleep.
5. The nightcap. A
drink or two may make you feel more relaxed after dinner, but it comes back to
haunt you -- literally -- a few hours later, by preventing you from achieving
deep sleep. And because alcohol both dehydrates you and makes you have to pee,
it wakes you up, too. Wine is high in the stimulant tyrosine as well.
