• Cheese Is Fine, but Go Easy on the Butter: Scientists Reveal Which Fatty Foods Are Actually Healthy

  For years, we were told that fatty foods were bad for us: people were advised to replace whole milk with skimmed milk, butter with spreads, and eat cheese as rarely as possible. But new research suggests the picture is more complicated...

• Just Two Spoonfuls a Day: Scientists Find an Unexpected Link Between Tomatoes and Memory

  A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has long been associated with better memory. Now, Spanish scientists have identified another potential link: ordinary tomatoes may influence brain function — and the key could be lycopene, a powerful antioxidant...

• Beauty with a Surprise: Scientists Find Microscopic Mites Under Eyelash Extensions

  Women who regularly get eyelash extensions may be highly likely to have microscopic mites living on their lashes, according to a new study cited by the Telegraph...

• Your Breasts Are Paying the Price for Your Favorite Bra: 5 Signs You’re Wearing the Wrong Size

  Taking off your bra after a long day is one of life’s little pleasures. But if you spend the entire day in pain or discomfort and literally count the hours until you can finally unhook it, the problem may be that you’re wearing the wrong size...

• Why You Should Never Wear Shorts or Skirts on a Plane: Flight Attendant’s Warning

  Flight attendants have an important warning for passengers: for the sake of your hygiene, never wear clothing that leaves your legs exposed when flying, according to The Independent...

• Why Dad’s Love for Chips Is to Blame for Baby’s Chubby Tummy

  It’s a long-held belief that a newborn’s weight and health depend entirely on what the mother eats during pregnancy. However, a groundbreaking study by Brazilian scientists turns that assumption on its head: as it turns out, a father’s diet prior to conception directly shapes a newborn’s body composition and weight...

• The Ideal Amount of Coffee by Age: Why You Should Drink More in Your 50s Than in Your 20s

  Coffee has long evolved past being just a morning wake-up call, a fix for sleep deprivation, or a way to boost focus. A growing consensus among scientists suggests the beverage offers invaluable benefits for the brain, liver, and muscles—with the optimal "dose" for adults reaching up to five cups a day...

• Lack of Sleep Leads to Weight Gain: Scientists Reveal How 90 Minutes of Sleep Loss Alters Your Waistline

  Chronic sleep deprivation can quietly contribute to extra pounds, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine...

That nightly glass of warm milk you drink to help yourself relax could actually be making your sleep worse. Scientists have uncovered a surprising link between late-night eating and the quality of our sleep and dreams.

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology sheds light on how eating before bed may affect the brain and the content of our dreams.

What Did the Study Find?

The study involved 1,082 university students, with an average age of 20. Participants completed detailed questionnaires, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index, and also provided information about their eating habits and food allergies or intolerances.

• Foods that may disrupt sleep: Eating dairy products, desserts, spicy foods and meat before bed was associated with more frequent nightmares and insomnia. More than 24% of participants said such late-night snacks worsened their sleep.
• Healthier habits: Around 20% of respondents said that light evening snacks such as fruit, vegetables or herbal tea, on the other hand, improved the quality of their sleep.
• The lactose factor: Researchers found a strong correlation between lactose intolerance and nightmares. Among participants who reported that eating negatively affected their sleep, nearly 30% were lactose intolerant, compared with 19.5% among those who did not report such problems.

Why Can Eating Before Bed Trigger Nightmares?

The researchers, led by Dr. Tore Nielsen of the University of Montreal, believe the problem may stem from gastrointestinal discomfort.

When a person eats heavy foods or consumes something their body does not tolerate well, it can cause hidden or obvious gastrointestinal irritation during the night. Because physical sensations during sleep can influence brain activity, bodily discomfort may be incorporated into disturbing dream narratives, resulting in vivid, frightening dreams and awakenings accompanied by distress.

Researchers also found that late-night eating itself — regardless of the type of food — was associated with more disturbing dream experiences.

At the same time, people who rarely eat before bed tended to remember their dreams better, possibly because their nighttime rest was calmer and deeper.

Experts’ Takeaways

The researchers note that changing eating habits, particularly for people with food sensitivities or intolerances, could offer a simple way to reduce troubling nightmares and insomnia.

However, the study was based on questionnaire data and requires further large-scale research. Still, its findings may help explain why the age-old advice to “have some warm milk before bed” does not work for everyone.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram