4 Types of Foods That Can Trigger Nightmares (6 Photos)

If you're plagued by nightmares, don't rush to book a therapy session just yet—the answer might be right on your plate. Bad dreams can be triggered by work stress, a stuffy bedroom, certain medications, and... what you ate for dinner. Researchers have found that specific foods and drinks can actively trigger night terrors.





Spicy Food



Back in 1992, researchers at the University of Tasmania in Australia discovered that eating hot sauces before bed makes it harder to fall asleep and can cause terrifying dreams. Further studies revealed that the culprit is a spike in body temperature, which alters both sleep patterns and dream content. So think twice before grabbing a slice of spicy pizza late at night.

Sweets





If you decide to top off your evening with a sweet treat, brace yourself for a restless night. Sugar doesn't just contribute to weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues—it also messes with your dreams. A joint study by researchers from Canadian universities in Montreal and Edmonton found that 31% of participants reported disturbing or unusual dreams after indulging in candy and pastries before bed.

Sugar disrupts REM sleep, the stage where most dreaming occurs. Because of this, experts recommend steering clear of sweets for at least five to six hours before turning in. Keep in mind that sweetened tea or coffee can trigger bad dreams just as easily.

Carbonated Drinks



Fizzy drinks are a direct threat to a good night's rest. Even worse are caffeinated sodas, which hit your sleep quality with a double whammy. While sugar disrupts the initial stages of sleep, caffeine keeps your brain on high alert, preventing deep relaxation. Avoid these beverages four to six hours before going to bed.

Chips and Fatty Snacks



If you love winding down in front of the TV with a beer and potato chips or other greasy snacks, you might end up starring in your own horror movie all night long. In a study of over 1,000 participants, researchers from Columbia University and the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center concluded that high-fat foods directly contribute to nightmares.

Heavy, high-fat foods take longer to digest, forcing your stomach to keep working hard while you sleep. This prolonged digestive activity can easily trigger disturbing dreams or lead to full-blown insomnia.



Nightmares can also serve as an early warning sign of underlying health issues. Scientists have long recognized a direct link between the content of our dreams and various physical ailments.