The Effect of Food on the Quality of Sleep

Research has shown that people who get 7-8 hours of sleep per night tend to maintain a healthy weight more than those with poor sleeping patterns. Lack of sleep has been linked with overeating and being overweight, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric illness, and performance deficits. However, little research has been done on whether the types of foods we eat and our overall diet might influence our sleep patterns.Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania examined how WHAT you eat might effect how you sleep. They found that people who had short sleep patterns of 5-6 hours a night ate more calories than those who slept the most hours of nine or more hours per night.They also found that people who slept less than 5 hours per night drank less water, ate fewer carbohydrates and protein, and had less lycopene in their diet. Those who slept 5-6 hours ate less vitamin C and selenium but had more lutein and zeaxanthin in their diet. Lastly, those who slept 9 or more hours had less theobromine, choline, and total carbohydrates, but drank more alcohol than the other groups. Source: Appetite Journal