People have believed that food can affect dreams for thousands of years. Even now, stories abound about how eating a certain dish, consuming too much, or eating too late at night set off a recurring dream, strange dream, or nightmare. Yet there is surprisingly little empirical research that directly addresses the question of whether foods cause nightmares.
Although evidence exists that sleep may be facilitated or disrupted by different types of foods – for example, foods that are rich in tryptophan, caffeine or alcohol, or even specific foods such as milk, kiwis or tart cherry juice. The effects of food on dreaming remain largely in the realm of speculation
Does Foods Cause Nightmares: Myth and Facts:
Debunking popular yet scientifically unsupported beliefs such as the idea that spicy or strange foods lead to bizarre dreams.
Does Cheese Cause Nightmares?
The short answer is not really. Different types of cheese seemed to inspire different dreams, but none could be classified as nightmares. That said, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that food, including cheese, could indirectly influence sleep and dreams.
Reviewing the limited scientific studies that have explored the relationship between food consumption and dream patterns. Let’s explore the common notion that food can impact dreams, often perpetuated by the media and folklore.
Risk factors for causing nightmares:
There are following risk factors that cause the nightmare:
Large Meals Just before Bed: Eating large meals just before bed can lead to discomfort, upset stomachs, and disturbed sleep, which increases the risk of nightmares.
Spicy Foods: Eating spicy food, particularly late at night, can elevate body temperature and metabolism, potentially disrupting the sleep cycle and resulting in more vivid dreams.
Rich or Fatty Foods: Eating fatty foods, particularly at night, can cause dyspepsia, discomfort, and restless sleep, all of which relate to nightmares.
Nuts-dairy: Some say eating dairy — particularly cheese — can result in vivid dreams or nightmares, but it is unsubstantiated and tends to vary from person to person
Caffeine: Foods or drinks containing caffeine- coffee, tea, chocolate products, and energy drinks, are drunk too soon before bed, it can interfere with sleep, make you restless, and possibly produce nightmares or vivid dreams.
Alcohol: While it can initially get you to sleep, alcohol suppresses REM (rapid eye movement) sleep aka dream time. In turn, that can lead to light sleep and more frequent nightmares.
The Indirect Impact of Hunger, Thirst, and Food causing nightmares:
Although direct evidence linking food and dreams is limited, indirect insights come from research on the effects of hunger, thirst, and dream content related to food. Anecdotal evidence also points to various beliefs about how different foods may influence nightmares or vivid dreaming.
The Role of Cow’s Milk in Infant Nightmares:
A significant study involving 146 children under five years old found that cow’s milk could play a key role in sleeplessness and disturbed behavior during sleep, although no direct relation was found between cow milk consumption and nightmares.
After excluding cow’s milk from the diets of the 17 children for whom no initial cause of sleeplessness could be found, significant improvements in sleep were observed. For 15 of these children, sleep normalized within 4-6 weeks. The study documented decreased time taken to fall asleep and a reduction in night-time arousals, suggesting a strong link between the consumption of cow’s milk and disrupted sleep patterns.
Accidental reintroduction of cow’s milk caused occasional sleeplessness even after months of removing it from their diets. This emphasizes how crucial it is to stick to a strict exclusion diet while receiving medical monitoring in order to effectively manage food intolerances. For persistent sleep issues, food intolerance should be considered when all other behavioral approaches fail.
How to Help Kids after a Nightmare:
Reassure your child that you’re there. Your calm presence helps your child feel safe and protected after waking up afraid. Your child feels more secure knowing that you will be there for them.
Give a name to what transpired. Tell your kid that although it was a nightmare, it is now over. You may say, “You had a bad dream, but now you’re awake and everything is OK.” Assure your youngster that the frightening events in their nightmare are not representative of reality.
Offer comfort. Show that you understand that your child feels afraid and it’s OK. Remind your child that everyone dreams and sometimes the dreams are scary, upsetting, and can seem very real, so it’s natural to feel scared by them.
Mood lighting. When children are getting ready to go back to sleep, a nightlight or a hall light might help them feel safe in a dark room. A flashlight by the bed can help you fight away nightmares.