Food Turns Out To Trigger Bad Dreams, Scientific Fact Checks

Illustration of food that triggers nightmares (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA - Have you ever had a strange dream after eating heavy or spicy food before bed? Apparently, it may not be just a coincidence. Several studies and experts say that the type of food can 'disturb' the REM sleep cycle (early stages of dreams), so dreams can feel more intense or emotional. What foods can affect your dreams?

There are three types of food that may play a role in influencing dreams. The first is milk and dairy products, which can cause mild digestive disorders during sleep. This digestive disorder has the potential to trigger you to wake up and make dreams easier to remember or feel strange.

Second, spicy food can increase the body's core temperature. It is also a type of food that may make dreams in your sleep not beautiful. According to experts, eating spicy food has the potential to reduce sleep quality and strengthen the intensity of dreams.

Third, foods with high sugar or processed carbohydrates can cause a spike or decrease in blood sugar levels. Under these conditions, it can trigger stress responses such as releasing cortisols that interfere with sleep patterns and strengthening emotional dreams. Blood sugar fluctuations can trigger active sympathetic nerves. This is what can interfere with sleep and affect your dreams.

Dreams that are too intense, make when you wake up you are still overshadowed by emotional aspects. It can also interfere with your mood all day. So, so that dreams are neither too intense nor too serious, you can do the following tips:

In conclusion, there is evidence that your type of food and meal time can affect dreams. Although the research entitled Food's and Substances Influencing (Lucid) Dreams published in the International Journal of Dream Research in October 2022 still needs to be investigated with wider variables, if you are often awakened from strong dreams or nightmares, reviewing what you eat before bed can be a useful simple step. However, don't forget other factors such as stress, sleep routine, and overall health conditions.