Diseases and Conditions Healthy Living

Causes of Insomnia

Advertisement

Diet

What you eat and when plays a huge role in how well you sleep. Eating foods that upset digestion, such as spicy, fatty, or oily foods, can cause discomfort throughout the night. There are five main groups of foods that you want to avoid for the time being if you struggle with insomnia. Those foods include drinks that serve as diuretics, plants from the nightshade group (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes), salty meats and cheeses, and ultra-processed carbohydrates, including sugary cereals, dessert yogurts, and even orange juice.

Another part of diet that people overlook is your caffeine consumption. Nearly 80 percent of adults in the United States drink some kind of caffeinated beverage regularly, from coffee to energy drinks and pre-workout supplements. Try cutting back your caffeine intake.