The combination of foods and drinks that we fuel our bodies with can affect the quality of our sleep.

Most know that caffeine is an inducer that would keep anyone up and disrupt your sleep at night. Caffeine consumption isn't the only thing to watch out for. The overall quality of the diet that we maintain inevitably affects our sleep as well.

Eating healthy and nutrient-rich foods will affect our brain health and activity and in turn, our sleep.

Timing matters too. Eating right before bed can disturb the quality of your sleep as your body is digesting your food throughout the night. “It’s best to avoid eating heavy meals at night,” says Dr. Iatridis, an expert in sleep disorders. “If you’re going to have a big meal, have it in the middle of the day. You’re less likely to store the extra calories as fat because your body will have time to burn them off and you’ll be less likely to have heartburn.”

Foods and drinks that most likely will affect your sleep:

• Acidic Foods - Acidic foods can trigger reflux before bed.
• Alcohol - “While alcohol can help you fall asleep faster, after that initial period, it disrupts your sleep,” says Dr. Iatridis. “I don’t recommend alcohol late at night, especially not for sleep quality.”
• Caffeine - Caffeine is a natural stimulant for the brain and central nervous system to help you stay alert which is the opposite need for sleep.
• Spicy foods - Avoid spicy ingredients to help reduce the risk of heartburn.