New research published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that certain foods, including dairy for lactose intolerant people, may negatively impact both sleep quality and dream content. These negative impacts on sleep could have broader impacts on the heart and overall health, suggesting that dietary intake before bedtime may be an important component of a healthy lifestyle.
The study included a survey of over 1,000 participants who were asked about whether specific foods impacted their dreams. Additionally, the participants were asked whether the effects on their dreams were due to physiological factors, such as food distress, or altered sleep quality. Participants were further asked about their diets, food tolerances, and allergies, and their sleep quality was measured using a validated sleep quality index. Anecdotal evidence and folk wisdom suggest that certain foods may impact dreams, and this study sought to understand how diet might impact dream content and overall sleep quality.
The results showed that about 40% of participants thought that certain foods either improved or worsened their sleep, and about 5.5% of participants thought that certain foods affected their dreams. About 30% of participants reported that they regularly had nightmares, and women were more likely to remember their dreams, to report poor sleep, and to report nightmares. Additionally, women were about twice as likely to report allergies or food intolerances compared to men. People with less healthy diets were more likely to have negative dreams and less likely to remember their dreams. Notably, lactose intolerance was significantly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, nightmares, and poor sleep.
The authors noted that bodily sensations can affect dreaming, which is likely why lactose intolerance is linked to nightmares. Nightmares and gastrointestinal symptoms may also lead to poorer quality sleep and potentially to sleep avoidance behaviors. Sleep is an essential component of heart health that is also linked to mental health and overall health. Monitoring one’s diet before sleep may be beneficial for improving sleep quality and avoiding nightmares and other sleep disturbances.
Sources: Frontiers in Psychology, Science Daily
