There are certain times when you always feel a little hungry, whether it’s in the middle of the afternoon at your desk or as you’re putting on your pajamas before you go to sleep at night. Snacking is fine, but eating before bed requires a little extra thought, because there are some foods that make it more difficult to fall asleep.

CPAPCentral.com is all about helping people sleep better each night, so we’re here to provide you with a list of foods to avoid before bed so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Food to Avoid: Bacon

We know, this is more of a breakfast food that you might not think of as a midnight snack, and for good reason. Bacon, and other cured meats, actually contain amino acids that trigger the production of norepinephrine, which keeps you awake. Besides, who wants to take the time to fry up bacon at night, anyway?

If you do need a meaty snack before bed, you’re better off with a turkey sandwich. Turkey isn’t a cured meat, and contains tryptophan, which can help you fall asleep.

Food to Avoid: Chocolate

There’s a reason it’s so hard to get the kids to sleep on Halloween night and why you should have them ration their candy. Chocolate contains caffeine, a chemical that does a good job if you’re trying to keep yourself awake. While dark chocolate is good for your heart, it can actually contain as much caffeine as energy drinks.

Rather than eating chocolate, consider a trail mix heavy on nuts and dried fruit, which can actually help you with a more restful sleep.

Food to Avoid: Alcohol

OK, while this may not be a food, there are a lot of people out there who think a nightcap can help them fall asleep. While it’s true that alcohol can help you fall asleep, you won’t get a lot of rest. People who go to bed with alcohol in their system tend to have fitful sleep, making it difficult to reach deeper stages of sleep.

As cliché as it may sound, a glass of warm milk can actually help you fall asleep by stimulating production of melatonin.

CPAPCentral.com is here for people who may need more than a glass a warm milk to help you sleep well. If you have sleep apnea, we have CPAP machines, CPAP masks and other supplies to help you sleep at night. Contact us to learn more.